Comaneci

Comaneci was reminded that she has nine Olympic medals.

“I think,” Comaneci said with a chuckle, “she’s going to pass me.”

Starting with Romania’s Nadia Comaneci victory in 1976 at 14 years old, the last 12 Olympic women’s all-around champions have been in their teens, but Thursday night’s podium was filled with 20-somethings.

Stars including Serena Wiliams, Michael Phelps, Natalie Portman, Nicole Kidman, Spike Lee and Nadia Comaneci were in attendance for one of the most in-demand tickets of the Games.

That is one more than Nadia Comaneci managed in Montreal 1976, aged 14, but the Romanian was the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect 10 at the Olympics and received seven in total that year.