Gymnastics Great Nadia Comaneci Gifted NFT for 'Perfect Ten' Anniversary

Nadia Comaneci was the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 at the Olympic Games. (AFP)
Nadia Comaneci was the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 at the Olympic Games. (AFP)
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Gymnastics Great Nadia Comaneci Gifted NFT for 'Perfect Ten' Anniversary

Nadia Comaneci was the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 at the Olympic Games. (AFP)
Nadia Comaneci was the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 at the Olympic Games. (AFP)

Romanian former gymnastics star Nadia Comaneci was gifted an NFT - a type of digital asset - by a group of Romanian creatives to mark the 45th anniversary since she became the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 at the Olympic Games.

The NFT is a digital necklace made of 10 pieces that are 3D renderings of vault, uneven bars, beam and floor moves she performed in Montreal in 1976.

It was created by a designer, an architect, a visual artist and an IT programmer and presented during Romanian Creative Week, an event showcasing design in the eastern city of Iasi earlier this month.

"I am glad to see that my performance from 45 years ago continues to inspire the young generation," Comaneci, who now resides in Oklahoma, said in a video message.

"I liked the idea of a new type of pioneering, this time at the intersection between athletic performance and technology."

Six other NFTs inspired by the "Perfect Ten" were created and will be auctioned off on Open Sea, the NFT marketplace, on July 18, the exact day when Comaneci made history.

NFTs, or non-fungible tokens, are blockchain-based digital assets ranging from art and videos to songs and tweets that have exploded in popularity during the pandemic as enthusiasts and investors scramble to spend enormous sums of money on items that only exist online.



EV Maker Rivian Beats Expectations for Deliveries as Supply Snag Eases

Workers assemble second-generation R1 vehicles at electric auto maker Rivian's manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois, US June 21, 2024. REUTERS/Joel Angel Juarez/File Photo
Workers assemble second-generation R1 vehicles at electric auto maker Rivian's manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois, US June 21, 2024. REUTERS/Joel Angel Juarez/File Photo
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EV Maker Rivian Beats Expectations for Deliveries as Supply Snag Eases

Workers assemble second-generation R1 vehicles at electric auto maker Rivian's manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois, US June 21, 2024. REUTERS/Joel Angel Juarez/File Photo
Workers assemble second-generation R1 vehicles at electric auto maker Rivian's manufacturing facility in Normal, Illinois, US June 21, 2024. REUTERS/Joel Angel Juarez/File Photo

Rivian surpassed analysts' expectations for fourth-quarter deliveries on Friday and said its production was no longer constrained by a component shortage, a positive sign for the electric vehicle maker aiming to turn its first profit.

Shares of the California-based company rose nearly 6% in premarket trading. The stock lost more than 40% of its value in 2024.

The shortage of the part used in its R1 SUV and R1T pickups, as well as its delivery vans, started in the third quarter and forced Rivian to slash its annual production target in October.

"The previously discussed shortage of a shared component on the R1 and RCV platforms is no longer a constraint on Rivian's production," the company said on Friday, Reuters reported.

Rivian handed over 14,183 vehicles in the three months ended Dec. 31, compared with estimates of 13,472, according to 15 analysts polled by Visible Alpha.

That was a 42% jump from the previous quarter and marked Rivian's highest deliveries in more than a year, even though Amazon.com, its biggest backer, takes fewer deliveries in the fourth quarter due to its focus on holiday season sales.

Rivian produced 12,727 vehicles in the quarter, compared with estimates of 11,398 units.

For 2024, production came in at 49,476 vehicles, down about 13% from a year earlier but above the company's lowered target of between 47,000 and 49,000 units.

Rivian has cut costs sharply by renegotiating supplier contracts and revamping its manufacturing processes to turn a gross profit for the fourth quarter. It also entered a technology joint venture with German automaker Volkswagen last year that will provide a $5 billion lifeline.

EV makers are grappling with slowing demand as higher borrowing costs push buyers toward cheaper gasoline-powered hybrid vehicles and legacy automakers focus on rolling out electric vehicles.

Bigger rival Tesla reported its first fall in yearly deliveries on Thursday, also weighed down by the EV pioneer's aging lineup.