Nadia Elena Comaneci

She earned worldwide recognition and affection by giving the world one of its most unforgettable moments in the history of sport - scoring the first-ever perfect ten bar asymmetrically, at the Montreal Olympic Games in 1976. She then went on to get six other perfect 10, and became the youngest Olympic all-around gold medalist in the world at just 14. The awe-inspiring Nadia Comaneci did more than draw the attention of others, but she also helped Romania establish itself as a world-class athlete. With a score that was not possible the sport's icon helped bring gymnastics to the forefront of international attention. Furthermore, it altered gender perception of women in the sport. Such was her impact in this Olympics that the uneven bars sport has two moves named after her - toe-on and release move, which have been assessed at a very difficult level. Alongside the Olympics, she showed remarkable results at the World Championships and European Championships and was subsequently an icon and one of the greatest gymnasts that the world can ever be privileged to. She also modeled and promoted athletic gear following her move to the US.