Nadia Comăneci surprised with Lifetime Achievement Award at Laureus World Sports Awards

Nadia Comăneci was surprised on Monday night in Madrid as she was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards.

On hand to present the award were fellow Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles and Bart Conner, Comăneci’s husband of 30 years.

“When I had to go on uneven bars, I didn’t feel that shaky,” Comăneci said, visibly emotional as the audience gave her a standing ovation.

Comăneci made history at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, scoring the first perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics history. It was, and still is, one of the most defining moments in the sport’s history.

Then 14 years old, Comăneci left Montreal with five medals: three gold, one silver, and one bronze. She would add four more medals – two gold and two silver – at the 1980 Moscow Games.

July 18 marks the 50th anniversary of Comăneci’s perfect 10.

“I would have to say five perfect 10s anniversary because 50 sounds like such a long time ago,” Comăneci joked of the milestone.

Now 64 years old, Comăneci went on to talk about being a little girl following her passion and how “17 seconds of my life at the Olympics changed everything.” She also talked about the importance of sports to children and commended Biles for being another icon of the sport. Together, the two are arguably the most important figures in gymnastics history.

Comăneci closed by telling Conner, “You are my perfect 10.”

Watch Comăneci’s full acceptance speech below.