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NADIA COMANECI - EXIT INTERVIEW

Mr. Trump said you're a great leader of yourself, but questioned your ability to lead others. Is there truth to this or is he wrong?

I disagree with Mr. Trump on this issue. First, I appreciate that he sees me as a disciplined person who is able to produce great results myself. But I also see myself as having the ability to lead others. In the Apprentice tapings that involved me, we appointed other people who had expertise in our assigned areas as project managers. Therefore, my role was one of taking on jobs that were either assigned to me or I could see needed to be done. It was not productive to the team for me to argue with the project manager once she had determined the direction we were headed. I am sure that Mr. Trump would have a very difficult time showing strong leadership qualities himself if he were ask to create an interesting and marketable fitness program. But most importantly, I would never allow myself to degrade others or to create contraversy to stay on the show.

If you could do one thing over again, what would it be?

I don't think I would change any thing I did, but I do wish the television audience could have seen more of what I actually did and said.

Why do you think the women seem to be struggling so much against the men?

The women actually followed the rules set down at the beginning of the tasks while the men could not have cared less. We worried so much about the possibility of being eliminated because the hot dogs weren't the right temperature, we used too much sex appeal, etc. The men just did whatever they needed to win.

So what's next for you?

Since this is an Olympic year, I am traveling a lot in my support of the the Games and many of the Olympic sponsors. Also, I will continue my work for The Nadia Comaneci Children's Clinic in Bucharest, the Special Olympics worldwide, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and others.

CONTESTANT INTERVIEW

Let's put the million-dollar question out there first. You've achieved fame and success in your life. Why put yourself through the often-brutal Apprentice process?

I knew that this was not my forte, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to promote the charities that I am involved with. They are very dear to my heart, and I would do almost anything to help advance their causes... Especially the Nadia Comaneci Children's Hospital in Bucharest which offers free medical, educational and spiritual help for the under-served children of Romania.

What do you admire most about Donald Trump? Do you see a correlation between him and you in the sense that you are both famous AND business people?

I respect the success that Donald has had in his business world; however, it is quite different from the business world in which I work. Although I have achieved a good level of success in business, my biggest achievement, scoring the first perfect ten in Olympic History, had nothing to do with money. And I'm kinda proud of that!

"Success" can mean different things to different people; what does it mean to you?

Success to me means rising to the top in whatever field one is involved!

Why should you be Donald Trump's celebrity Apprentice?

I really feel that apprentice is the wrong word to use in this series. Personally, I don't aspire to be anyone's apprentice, but for me to win this "competition" would mean a lot to the Special Olympics. It would help many people who need and deserve our support.

And if I can't win, I hope that I have exposed more people to the work of Special Olympics - maybe even inspire them to give their support to these fine athletes. I also must add that I work very closely with the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Since you are in the public spotlight, people already know a great deal about you. What's one thing that the public may not know?

That I'm very funny, and I love to cook! Oops! I guess that's two things!

If you could be the star of any movie ever made, which star and which movie would it be and why?

It would be Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman" because she rose above her situation to win the love of her man on her own terms! She never gave up who she really was!

What are your three favorite albums of all time?

The Bee Gee's Greatest Hits

Anything by Celine Dion

The soundtrack from Mama Mia!

What are your three favorite books of all time?

Dr. Zhivago

Gone with the Wind

The Thorn Birds