Larisa Iordache

Sport: Gymnastics

Nation: Romania

DOB: June 19, 1996

Hometown: Bucharest

Career Highlights: Iordache took the gold medal in floor exercise and silver in balance beam while helping Romania to the team gold at this year's European Championships. That dominant effort followed an outstanding senior international debut at the American Cup in March, as she took home the bronze in all-around while earning the highest score on beam - her best event and one in which she'll be considered among the favorites for London. Her rise this year has only increased comparisons with fellow Romanian and Olympic legend Nadia Comaneci, the first gymnast in modern Olympic history to score a perfect 10 when she did so on the uneven bars at the 1976 Montreal Games. Comaneci won the all-around title and added two other gold medals in those Olympics. “I feel honored to be compared to Nadia, but every gymnast has her own qualities and every gymnast is good enough on her own and doesn’t have to be compared to anyone,” Iordache said. Beam and floor exercise are Iordache's specialties, but she wouldn't mind being compared to Comaneci if she can duplicate her countrywoman's all-around title in London, as she's considered a top contender to capture one of the most prestigious gold medals of the Summer Games.

Olympic History: None