Nadia Elena Comaneci

The 1976 Montreal Olympic Games, the athlete made headlines after scoring the world's first perfect ten on asymmetrical bars. She went on to achieve another perfect 10 which made her the youngest Olympic gold medalist in all sports with a mere 14 years of age. She did more than make headlines across the globe, but she also brought Romania into the limelight. This sporting icon stepped into prominence after scoring an unprecedented number of points, thereby creating a legend and popularizing gymnastics as a game across the world. In addition, it changed perception of women athletes by the public. Such was her impact in her participation in the Olympics that an uneven bars sport has two moves named after her: toe-on and release. Both remain classified as high-level degree. The gymnast also did well in World Championships, European Championships, and Olympics. This made her a legend, and she's one of the most well-known gymnasts in the world. Also, she modelled and marketed athletic gear following her move to the US.