Disappointed
Nadia’s arrival in the United States was not met with open arms. When she was 15, she became a gymnastics superstar, but those moments were long gone. Moreover, rumors followed her even across the ocean, with stories circulating about an alleged affair with the guy who assisted her escape, Constantin Panait. She said of her reception in the United States, two weeks after her defection from Romania, “This is not what I expected,” in an interview with The New York Times. I’m dismayed; in fact, I’m utterly dismayed.
Disappointed
Trapped Again
Nadia appreciated Panait’s assistance, but it ended up being a double-edged sword. Panait attempted to keep her away from the rest of the people and focus solely on her. The news of her arrival in the United States spread quickly. These people include her coach Béla Károlyi and her boyfriend Bart Conner. Panait prevented all of their communications with her by refusing to deliver their messages. Again, she felt imprisoned, but this time it was by a single man rather than by her country.
Trapped Again
