Comaneci remains perfect 10
Author: From Wire Services
Date: Tuesday, July 22, 1980
Page: ?????
Section: SPORTS

MOSCOW - Nadia Comaneci picked up right where she left off four years ago -with perfection.

The Romanian gymnast who captivated the world with her perfect 10 routines at the Montreal Olympics, did it again yesterday, along with Russia's Natalia Shaposhnikova, as gymnastic competition opened.

With a rooting section of about 20 Romanians screaming, "Nadia . . . Nadia," the 18-year-old flipped off the balance beam and the electronic scoreboard flashed a perfect row of 10 . . . 10 . . . 10 . . .

But Shaposhnikova duplicated the performance on the vault, and they had identical marks of 9.95 on their other three exercises, including uneven bars and floor routine, in the first day of team competition. The Soviets held the lead, followed by the East Germans, with the Romanians third.

The Soviets' Nelli Kim, who is expected to challenge Comaneci for the all-around gold medal, posted four marks of 9.90 and was in fourth place overall, helping her team and demonstrating peak form for the individual battle ahead.

Yesterday's events stood as both team competition and qualification for the all-around and apparatus titles which will be held later in the week.