Today, we rank gymnastics’ most iconic power couples, celebrating the love and athleticism that define their partnerships both in and out of the gym.
5. Laurie Hernandez and Charlotte Drury of the United States — While they aren’t married (yet), this couple definitely deserves a spot on the list. Laurie Hernandez, 2016 Olympic gold medalist in women’s artistic gymnastics, has been in a relationship for several years with Charlotte Drury, one of the top American trampoline gymnasts and a 2020 Olympic alternate. They are also perhaps the most prominent gay couple in gymnastics right now. Rooting for them!
4. Dominique Moceanu and Michael Canales of the United States — Dominique Moceanu, the youngest member of the gold-winning "Magnificent Seven" at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, later married elite gymnast Michael Canales from Ohio State University. They first met in 1994 at the U.S. National Championships, where Canales was competing and Moceanu won her first all-around junior title. In her memoir “Off Balance,” Moceanu describes how, during a period of immense personal turmoil in her life, she started seeing her old friend in a new light while working together at the International Gymnastics Camp in 2001. Their connection deepened at the 2001 U.S. National Championships later that year, and the rest is history.
3. Eleftherios “Lefteris” Petrounias and Vasiliki Millousi of Greece — Eleftherios Petrounias of Greece, a three-time Olympic medalist on the rings, with a gold medal in 2016 and bronze medals in 2020 and 2024, married fellow Greek gymnast Vasiliki Millousi, a three-time Olympian (2000, 2012, 2016). The two were longtime friends who traveled and competed together throughout their careers. They tied the knot in 2019 and are proud parents to two beautiful daughters, Sofia and Eleni. While Millousi has since retired, Petrounias shared in 2019 that one of his key motivations for continuing to compete at the highest level is so that his daughters could watch.
2. Jordyn Wieber and Chris Brooks of the United States — Jordyn Wieber, a member of the gold-winning "Fierce Five" at the 2012 Olympics, eventually tied the knot with 2016 Olympian Chris Brooks. The two first met in 2011 at the World Gymnastics Championships in Tokyo, where they were both competing. After years of friendship, they began dating in 2017. Following their Olympic careers, Wieber and Brooks took coaching positions at the University of Arkansas together and got engaged in 2021. The couple is now expecting their first baby.
1. Nadia Comaneci of Romania and Bart Conner of the United States — Who else could claim the top spot? At just 14, Nadia Comaneci made history by scoring the first-ever perfect 10 in Olympic gymnastics at the 1976 Montreal Games. She went on to score six more perfect 10s in 1976 and won five golds, three silvers and one bronze throughout her career, cementing her legacy as one of the sport's greatest. Bart Conner also competed at the 1976 Olympics as the youngest member of the U.S. team at 18. Their paths diverged after the 1980 boycott, with Comaneci competing in the Moscow Games while Conner instead received the Congressional Gold Medal. Conner later returned to win gold in 1984, but by then, Comaneci had retired.
In 1989, Comaneci defected from Romania to the United States with the help of Constantin Panait, who was also her romantic partner at the time. However, their relationship was marked by abuse. Conner, knowing Comaneci’s difficult situation, arranged through his broadcasting connections to appear on “The Pat Sajak Show” at the same time as Comaneciand Panait in 1990. During the show, he presented Comaneci with a bouquet of red roses, a gesture that marked the beginning of their love story and a new chapter in her life.
