Letters to a Young Gymnast by Nadia Comaneci, 0465012760, Lowest Book Price Finder

Customer Reviews:

More than just a gymnastic biography.

An amazing book about both Nadia's strength and determination in both her sport and life and the struggle it was living in Romania at the time. Both her love and devotion to both sport and country are apparent. This is the story of a woman who works hard for what she has got. A book that is compelling read for anyone not just fans of gymnastics.

A very insightful book

Unlike most gymnastics biographies I have read, this is not your usual gushy and glamourous fare. Believe it or not, Nadia has had a very hard life. The book is extremely well written, and has the perfect tone for younger readers. Nadia explains the tougher times of living in communist Romania and her subsequent defection totally honestly and clearly and without partronising. Although a children's book, adults will appreciate the quality of the writing and a riveting story she has to tell.

Great read

It was a real treat for me to read this book. Nadia had a huge influence on my life as a young girl training to be a competitive gymnast. Nadia has always been one of my idols & reading her own story, in the way in which it has been written, has answered alot of questions for me.

Nadia explains her life, her ambitions, her relationship with her coach, her life in Romania and why and how she defected in such a way that you feel as though you are living through her experiences with her.

Thank you Nadia, for your story and for the influence you had on me as a child.

Bravo Nadia!

As the winner of the 1976 Montreal Olympics, Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci made history. Aged only fourteen, she won the all-around gold medal, scoring an unheard of series of seven perfect tens!

She was the heroine of little girls the world over. But being Romanian, her life seemed shrouded in secrecy and mystery. In 1981, the book Ã¢Â¬ÃNadia Ã¢Â¬" My Own StoryÃ¢Â¬" was published and we felt we had received answers to some of our many questions. But it has since been revealed that she had very little to do with that book.

January 2004 saw the release of her book - Letters To A Young Gymnast Ã¢Â¬" and finally, we were offered the opportunity to discover something of the real Nadia, the person behind the impenetrable deep brown eyes.

Reading the book was a wonderful experience. It is written as if Nadia is answering questions from a young fan, but this does not make the subject matter childish or limited. She details her life from birth to her wedding to American gymnast Bart Conner in a way which is so readable and compelling, that you will find it hard to stop reading until the very end.

Her frankness and honesty is enchanting as she responds to rumours that have haunted her over the years. At last, she has her opportunity to tell her story and it is an amazing one. You discover her reaction to winning the 1976 Olympics and losing her title in 1980. But you also find out how she planned and executed her defection to the USA Ã¢Â¬" a journey just as brave as her long route to world glory.

Her story is captivating and inspiring Ã¢Â¬" not only to young gymnasts, but also to anyone of any age. She explains how she applies her philosophy to life in general and how we can achieve our own goals and see each step as a positive one.

Nadia is now in her forties, but she remains an icon to sports fans all over the world and her enthusiasm is infectious. Her book is a great read and a must for anyone who has ever wondered how she got to the top or what she has achieved as an adult.

Bravo Nadia!

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