Drive, Focus Helped Her Spring Right To The Top; Be Determined: Gymnastics champ Nadia Comaneci let no obstacles bar her from giving her all in competition -- and life.(LEADERS & SUCCESS)(BEST OF LEADERS & SUCCESS)

Publication: Investor's Business Daily

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Byline: CURT SCHLEIER

For Nadia Comaneci, gymnastics was more than a combination of strength and athletic ability. To win, she felt, she had to use all her skills -- including brainpower.

Before an exercise, Comaneci, a world-class competitor from the mid-1970s to mid-1980s, intently watched the other contestants -- and the judges. She watched her opponents' routines and kept an eye on their scores.

Comaneci (pronounced co-mah-neech) would puzzle out what the judges seemed to be doing on a particular day -- whether it was emphasizing degree of difficulty or marking down for minor errors.

Then she'd use what she learned. Although she couldn't make big changes in a carefully planned routine, she could alter subtle points.

Although she might make the small changes, Comaneci didn't dwell on her routine during competition. Once she set a...

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