The National University of Physical Education and Sport awards Nadia Comăneci the title of Doctor Honoris Causa

The National University of Physical Education and Sports in Bucharest will confer an Honorary Doctorate on former great gymnast Nadia Comăneci. The ceremony will take place on November 19, 2026, at 12:00 p.m., in the George Emil Palade Amphitheater at UNEFS’s central headquarters.

The distinction recognizes Nadia Comăneci’s exceptional sporting achievements, her contribution to the development of gymnastics and to promoting Romanian sport internationally. The university also highlights her role as a model for several generations of athletes.

Nadia Comăneci graduated from the Institute of Physical Education and Sports in 1984, an institution that forms part of her academic and professional journey. UNEFS considers the conferral of the title particularly significant, reaffirming the connection between the athlete’s excellence and the university where she trained.

The ceremony is being organized as part of Nadia Year – 2026 and marks 50 years since the historic performance she achieved at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. At the time, Nadia Comăneci received the first perfect 10 in the history of Olympic gymnastics, an achievement that became a global benchmark in elite sport.