Nadia Comăneci, awarded for her entire career at the Laureus Gala

Nadia Comăneci, the legendary Romanian gymnast, is a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, an association that includes over 60 of the greatest athletes in history and presents annual awards. In 2026, it will be 50 years since the first score of 10 achieved in gymnastics, accomplished by Nadia on July 18, 1976, in Montreal.

Romania has declared the year 2026 as "The Year of Nadia Comăneci" to celebrate this historic achievement. On the same day, at the Laureus Gala in Madrid, tennis players Carlos Alcaraz and Arina Sabalenka were awarded as the best athletes of the year, highlighting excellence in sports on a global level.