Two Champions
At the end of the extraordinary excellence demonstrated at the competition, it was of course, award time. One male gymnast and one female gymnast were to be awarded a silver cup. Romanian contestant Nadia Comăneci was the silver champion for the female category, and American Bart Conner was the male athlete to receive the silver cup. This was the first time Nadia and Bart met each other, but not the last.
Two Champions
A Kiss
Photographers and reporters were huddling around the two athletes after they stepped off the podium with their trophies, when one of them shouted: “Kiss for the camera, please!” Bart Conner was just 18 years old and young Nadia was still only 14, so although both felt slightly awkward they were still euphoric with their achievements; Bart bent over and lightly kissed young Nadia’s cheek for the cameras. The photograph made such a cute picture that Nadia became an American sweetheart, loved by all.
A Kiss
