Letters to a Young Gymnast : The Art of Mentoring

This title is from one of the world's most celebrated female gymnasts, what it takes for gymnasts to achieve such success. If there were such a thing as an 'elder' stateswoman in women's gymnastics today, Nadia Comaneci would win that title as readily as she once won gold medals. Olga Korbut came before her, and many other medalists would follow, but none have ever been as dominant in winning the hearts of millions around the world. With grit and determination, Nadia Comaneci ushered in a new era for women's sports, one where young girls could vault into the arena of superstardom. Even today, more than thirty years after her greatest triumphs, you need only mention the word 'Nadia' to gymnastics fans know instantly whom you are talking about. In "Letters to a Young Gymnast", Nadia shows us what it takes to achieve these heights. With inspiring and dramatic stories from her own experience, she tells us how the young girl that Bela Karolyi discovered in that Romanian elementary school found the inner strength to become a world-class athlete at such a young age. Now a woman of tremendous poise and self-assurance, Nadia offers up unique insights into the mind of a top competitor. From how to live on after you've realised your dream, to the necessity of 'a spirit forged with mettle,' Nadia's thoughts on athleticism and sacrifice are eye-opening and surprisingly challenging.

Nadia Comenici Born in 1961 in Onesti, Romania, Nadia Comaneci made sports history during the 1976 Olympic Games by scoring the first perfect "10.00" in a gymnastics competition. By the end of that Olympiad, she had repeated that feat six more times. Since defecting to the US in 1989, she is an international spokesman for her sport as well as numerous charities. She lives in Norman, Oklahoma with her husband, American gymnast Bart Conner, and their son, Dylan.