Mutual Respect
Even with the scandal in Moscow still in the air, the stellar Nadia earned herself one gold medal, in addition to the respect of the other competitors and admiration of her fans around the world. Nellie Kim, a USSR gymnast, hugged and congratulated Nadia on the podium. Kim even dispelled the idea that Nadia lacks feelings by saying this about Nadia: “She was psychologically prepared, not emotionless.”
Mutual Respect
Escaping The Grip
In 1981, the Gymnastics Federation created the tour “Nadia,” which was to promote Nadia all over America. The tour had Nadia go to 11 cities and it gave her an opportunity to be admired and loved by Americans. However, more importantly, the tour gave her coach a chance to be safe. Béla Károlyi defected to the US, leaving Nadia once more with an intense feeling of abandonment.
Escaping The Grip