| Revision as of 21:41, 19 December 2017 editBuster7 (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers67,040 edits →Gymnastics career: format and Medal← Previous edit |
Revision as of 22:13, 19 December 2017 edit undoBuster7 (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers67,040 edits →Nadia Comăneci: Reworked this section. With all respect to Nadia, the article is about Conner. Also, much was lifted from the Comaneci WP articleNext edit → |
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==Nadia Comăneci== |
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==Nadia Comăneci== |
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On November 27, 1989, ], a Romanian gymnast Conner had met at the 1976 Montreal games, ]. In January 1990, when Conner read in the newspaper that she was scheduled to be interviewed on '']'', he contacted the producer and arranged to make a guest appearance on the show.<ref name="scoop">{{cite web |
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===American Cup=== |
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In March 1976, Nadia Comăneci competed in the inaugural edition of the ] at ] in New York City. She received rare scores of 10, which signified a perfect routine without any deductions, for her vault in the preliminary stage and for her floor exercise routine in the final of the all-around competition which she went on to win.<ref> Robin Herman, ''],'' March 28, 1976.</ref> It was during this event that Comăneci first met Conner. While he remembered this meeting, Comăneci noted in her memoirs that she had to be reminded of it later in life. She was 14 and Conner was celebrating his 18th birthday.<ref>Comăneci, p. 53</ref> They both won a silver cup and were photographed together. A few months later, they both participated in the ] which Comăneci dominated while Conner was a marginal figure. Conner later stated, "Nobody knew me, and certainly didn’t pay attention to me."<ref name=first>{{cite web |
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|url=http://www.wherearetheynow.buzz/adorable-way-olympic-couple-first-met |
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|title=The Adorable Way This Olympic Couple First Met |
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|accessdate=August 19, 2016 |
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|date=2016 |
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|publisher=] |
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}}</ref> |
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===Nadia '81=== |
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In 1981, the Gymnastics Federation contacted Comăneci and told her that she would be part of an official tour to the United States they planned to call "Nadia '81", led by her coaches Béla and Márta Károlyi.<ref>. Ira Berkow, ''New York Times,'' March 6, 1981</ref> During this tour, Comăneci's team shared a bus trip with American gymnasts, thus allowing her to meet Conner for the second time (since their first meeting in 1976). She later remembered thinking that Conner was "cute. He bounced around the bus talking to everyone – he was incredibly friendly and fun."<ref>Comăneci, pp. 111–112</ref> |
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===1990-Present === |
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On November 27, 1989, Comăneci ]. They were all guided by Constantin Panait, a Romanian who was now an ] after defecting, and whom Comăneci had met at a party given by a friend of hers. In the years since Béla Károlyi's defection to the United States, she had changed her mind on the subject and met a number of Romanians at the party who talked about it. Comăneci notes in her memoir that her first impression of Panait was a positive one, as "he seemed nice, and he was believable because he was now an American."<ref>Comăneci, p.129</ref> Later after meeting Panait, her brother Adrian told her,t "Constantin was the real deal. He wasn't bluffing. There were six other Romanians who planned to trust him with their lives."<ref>Comăneci, p.133</ref> Comăneci then began a long period of planning for her escape.<ref>Comăneci, pp. 133–135</ref> Once it began, their dangerous overland journey (mostly on foot and at night) took her through Hungary, Austria, and finally to the United States.<ref>Comăneci, pp. 137–148</ref> |
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After she had arrived in the United States in 1989 with Panait, Comăneci states, "Constantin told me that I was going to live with his wife and children for a bit. I never questioned him."<ref>Comăneci, p. 147</ref> Her arrival initially generated some negative press, however, as a result of the media's misrepresentation of her relationship with Panait.<ref name=says/> Comăneci later stated in her memoir that her response of "so what?" to a reporter's comment that Panait was married was due to her poor command of the English language at the time: "Constantin had offered to help me defect, and I'd accepted. I assumed that his wife knew that he was going to help a handful of Romanians get out of the country and that I was one of them. But what people took from my answer was that I was a home-wrecker. Nothing could have been further from the truth. In hindsight, I understand that I'd made a very poor choice of words. Constantin had plans to become my personal manager upon our arrival in the United States. I didn't know that, but he promised to help me get settled, and I guess I just accepted his involvement in my future career as fair payment for the risks he'd taken. People died every day trying to defect."<ref name=says>{{cite web |
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|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1989-12-13/news/8903170746_1_constantin-panait-ken-pataki-comaneci-and-panait |
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|title= Comăneci Says Live-in Is Manager |
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|accessdate=August 19, 2016 |
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|date=December 13, 1989 |
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|publisher=Chicago Tribune |
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}}</ref><ref>Comăneci, p.149</ref> |
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During that time, "old friends" such as Béla Károlyi and Conner "strained to learn the news of my plans. They tried to contact me by telephone but Constantin did not relay their messages."<ref>Comăneci, pp. 149–150.</ref> When Conner read in the newspaper that she was scheduled to appear on '']'' in January 1990 with Panait,<ref name="scoop" /><ref>Comăneci, pp. 149–154.</ref> he wondered "why it was still impossible for any friends to contact" Comăneci.<ref name="bio150">Comăneci, p.150.</ref> As he had worked for NBC Sports as a host during the previous Olympics, he knew the producer Michael Weisman (who had since moved to CBS) and contacted him to inquire about Comăneci's upcoming interview. They discussed the "fact that none of old friends had been able to see or contact" Comăneci, and Conner was worried (given the bad press that she had been given) that "something fishy" was going on. Weisman was thus able to arrange for Conner to make a guest appearance on the show if he could be in Los Angeles by taping at 5 pm.<ref name="scoop">{{cite web |
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|url=http://newsok.com/article/2304764 |
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|url=http://newsok.com/article/2304764 |
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|title=Bart Gets The Scoop On Nadia |
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|title=Bart Gets The Scoop On Nadia |
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}}</ref><ref name="bio150" /> Conner liked the idea of surprising Comăneci: "I'm thinking if she's going to be on Sajak, I might as well go out there and say, 'Hey, Nads,' " <ref name="scoop" /> |
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}}</ref><ref name="bio150" /> Conner liked the idea of surprising Comăneci: "I'm thinking if she's going to be on Sajak, I might as well go out there and say, 'Hey, Nads,' " <ref name="scoop" /> |
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Later in 1990, Conner interviewed her for ]. A few months later, Conner was invited to her 29th birthday party, after which they developed a long-distance friendship for a few years. When a mutual friend died an accident in 1991, Conner invited Comăneci to come to Oklahoma to help him run a gymnastics school. They were together for four years before they became engaged. On April 27, 1996, Conner and Comăneci were married in a ceremony in ] that was televised live throughout Romania. Their wedding reception was held in the former presidential palace.<ref> ''Cincinnati Post,'' April 6, 1996</ref> In an interview years later, Comăneci recalled that the experience "was very emotional, not just seeing my mother but seeing an entire country I’d left. When I got married in Bucharest there were 10,000 people on the street. People didn’t go to work that day. It was emotional to see how people care about you." <ref name=daily>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2711049/The-terrifying-day-I-defected-NAdia-Comaneci-tells-harrowing-story.html|title=The terrifying day I defected: She was the golden girl of gymnastics at just 14 – before fleeing Romania for the States. Now, Nadia Comăneci tells her full harrowing story |author=Rebecca Hardy|date=August 1, 2014|work=DailyMail}}</ref> Conner and Comăneci have one child, a son named Dylan Paul Conner who was born on June 3, 2006, in ], Oklahoma.<ref> People, June 6, 2006</ref><ref> Catalina Iancu, ''Jurnalul National,'' August 28, 2006</ref> |
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Conner's plane arrived at LAX at 4:40 pm and he was flown by helicopter to CBS Studios, landing by the time of a commercial break. After appearing on the show, Conner gave Comăneci his telephone number, but at the time, Comăneci, who was "shy and suspicious of him also sensed that he was being open and honest. For a second, I was tempted to ask for help...I needed to move on and find a better life for myself. Bart told me later that he tried to call me after the show, but Constantin never let me know of his calls."<ref>Comăneci, pp. 153–154</ref> Of Conner's sudden appearance on the show, Comăneci later commented in her memoir, "There was nothing romantic about motivation. It was based on his desire to help a young woman he'd met once who was an icon in our shared sport."<ref name="bio150" /> |
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Later in 1990, Alexandru Stefu (another old friend from Romania) invited Comăneci and Panait to Montreal, where he was staying with his family and with Béla Károlyi. Comăneci notes in her memoir that after they arrived in Montreal, and "when he finally had an opportunity to get me alone, Alexandru asked what was next for me. I told him that I was thinking about staying in Montreal, but hadn't yet mentioned the idea to because he'd already booked us on a flight back to Los Angeles. The next day, Alexandru sent me to meet with the director of the Olympic stadium, who told me that I could do some exhibitions and appearances for him When I woke up the next morning and went downstairs, Alexandru told me that was gone. I never heard from him again, but I hope he is well and thank him for his help. I realize that our business relationship may have tarnished my name and image, but I safely escaped from Romania, and that is truly what was most important. There wasn't too much time to figure out why had left because very soon after his departure, CNN contacted me."<ref name=p154>Comăneci, p. 154</ref> |
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Later that year, Conner traveled to Montreal to see her once again, this time to interview her for ]. A few months later, Stefu surprised Comăneci by inviting Conner to her 29th birthday party,<ref>Comăneci, pp. 157–159</ref> after which they developed a long-distance friendship for a few years. When Stefu died in a scuba diving accident over the Labor Day weekend in 1991, Conner invited Comăneci to come to Oklahoma to help him run a gymnastics school.<ref>Comăneci, pp. 160–162</ref> |
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After leaving Montreal and moving to Oklahoma, Comăneci stayed in a room in the home of Conner's gymnastic's coach, ]. Eventually, Ziert became her manager. In addition, Conner and she were friends for a while before they developed a relationship, and were together for four years before they became engaged.<ref>Comăneci, pp. 162–164</ref> On April 27, 1996, Conner and Comăneci were married in a ceremony in ] that was televised live throughout Romania. Their wedding reception was held in the former presidential palace.<ref> ''Cincinnati Post,'' April 6, 1996</ref> In an interview years later, Comăneci recalled that the experience "was very emotional, not just seeing my mother but seeing an entire country I’d left. When I got married in Bucharest there were 10,000 people on the street. People didn’t go to work that day. It was emotional to see how people care about you." <ref name=daily>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2711049/The-terrifying-day-I-defected-NAdia-Comaneci-tells-harrowing-story.html|title=The terrifying day I defected: She was the golden girl of gymnastics at just 14 – before fleeing Romania for the States. Now, Nadia Comăneci tells her full harrowing story |author=Rebecca Hardy|date=August 1, 2014|work=DailyMail}}</ref> Conner and Comăneci have one child, a son named Dylan Paul Conner who was born on June 3, 2006, in ], Oklahoma.<ref> People, June 6, 2006</ref><ref> Catalina Iancu, ''Jurnalul National,'' August 28, 2006</ref> |
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==Books== |
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==Books== |
He won the 1972 U.S. Junior National Championships when he was 14 and the U.S. Gymnastics Federation All-Around championship when he was 17, and was the youngest member of the Olympic team during the 1976 Summer Olympics. He also won a team all-around gold medal at the 1975 Pan American Games.
Although he qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics, he did not participate due to the boycott. Four years later, in the 1984 Summer Olympics, he won two gold medals for the team all-around and for the men's parallel bars. His win on the parallel bars helped "the U.S. win its first men's Olympic gymnastic gold medal in 80 years." He also demonstrated an original move called the "Conner spin” during the 1984 Olympics.
Conner is a highly decorated gymnast who has won “medals at every level of national and international competition.” Some of his honors include “induction into the USOC Olympic Hall of Fame (1991), the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame (1996), Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame (1997), and the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame (1997).” While Connor did not compete in the 1980 games, he was one of 461 athletes to receive a Congressional Gold Medal many tears later.
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Bart Conner (right) talking with Mark Spitz at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro
United States
1984 USA Olympic Gymnastics Team_pictogram.svg)
United States (USA): Bart Conner, Tim Daggett, Mitch Gaylord, Jim Hartung, Scott Johnson, Peter Vidmar
