Comaneci, who won three golds in Montreal and then two more in Moscow four years later, had a tough taskmaster in coach Bela Karolyi. Her childhood consisted of hour after hour of practice with little or no material reward and she feels today's gymnasts have it less rough.
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"What is different is that they can make a living from gymnastics and people stay longer in the sport. Also you don't have to do four events, you can specialise in one, so that shortens their workout. We had to do compulsory as well don't forget.
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"But the hard work is the same. There is no magic pill, you have to work and train hard.
"People asked what was the secret of Romanian gymnastics -- we just worked twice as hard as everyone else. Now everyone does it -- which is why they are much better," she says with a grin.
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