Sunday, February 2, 1992

Section: SPORTS

By Diane Lewis, KNIGHT-RIDDER NEWS SERVICE

Memo: OLYMPICS

Nadia Comaneci, the Romanian gymnast and Olympic gold medalist who fled her homeland
under bizarre circumstances in 1989, stretched and flexed Thursday, leading the 51 Miss USA
contestants in warm-up exercises.

The 30-year-old Comaneci was huffing-puffing proof that a pudgy, neglected body can be retooled.

"I'm in good shape," she said, proudly sporting a sleek black, teal and royal blue two-piece workout
suit. "Of course, I'm not 14 anymore." She now weighs in at an enviable 108 pounds.

Comaneci credits fellow Olympic gold medalist Bart Conner and Conner's coach, Paul Ziert of
Norman, Okla., with getting her back in shape and putting her life on course in recent months.

Comaneci left Romania in 1989 with the help of Constantin Panait, a married Florida roofer whom
she later accused of beating her and taking more than $150,000 from her.

Comaneci and Conner first met in 1976 at an international gymnastics competition. Comaneci won
three Olympic gold medals in 1976 and was the first gymnast to receive a perfect 10 in Olympic
competition.

She now lives in Montreal but spends much of her time on the road with Conner and Ziert, in
personal appearances, television specials and gymnastic shows. Ziert both coaches and manages the
gymnasts.

Comaneci said that when her athletic career was over in Romania, she had no reason - or place - to
exercise and maintain her condition. "There are no health clubs, no incentive," she said.

As a girl, she had worked out eight hours a day in a state training school. ''The government told us
to say it was only two or three hours a day," she said, and explained that government leaders
thought that if other countries knew how much the Romanians trained, the country's competitive
edge would be lost.

Comaneci put training aside for six years and gained weight. When Bela Karolyi, her former coach,
who himself defected to the United States in 1981, saw pictures of her after she arrived in the
United States, he called Ziert. Ziert said Karolyi told him, "We've got to help her."

Ziert later went to Montreal, produced a television special about Comaneci, and eventually became
her U.S. manager. But he credits Conner with guiding her in an exercise program that has "really
reshaped her body."

And that has shaped up her career of product endorsements, personal appearances and gymnastic
shows in the United States and around the world. ''She is an even bigger star overseas," said Ziert,
ticking off a list of coming appearances.

"How do you like being in America?" asked one of the Miss USA candidates. Comaneci's response
was swift and to the point: "Nothing better."

The gymnasts came to Wichita to promote a message of fitness and an ABC television special that
will run the night after the Miss USA pageant. They also taped a segment to be aired during the
pageant Friday and signed autographs for the contestants.

After 15 minutes of twists and bends left the women sprawled wearily on the floor, Conner said,
"OK, I've got one more optional exercise," and without breaking his grin, he did a back flip

No one took the option.