Mary Lou Retton

Mary Lou Retton, born on January 24, 1968, is a retired American gymnast. She became very famous for her amazing skills and hard work.

In the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Mary Lou did something very special. She won a gold medal in the individual all-around competition. She also won two silver medals and two bronze medals. Because of her great performance, she received the Sports Illustrated Sportswoman of the Year award.

Her gold medal win was very important because she was the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal in Olympic gymnastics. Because of this, she became one of the most popular athletes in the United States.

Early life

Mary Lou Retton was born on January 24, 1968, in Fairmont, West Virginia. Her father, Ronnie, worked in a coal-industry transportation business. She went to Fairmont Senior High School but didn’t finish her studies. She took part in the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California, while she was still in her second year of high school.

Gymnastics career

Mary Lou Retton started gymnastics when she was eight years old after watching Nadia Comăneci at the 1976 Summer Olympics. She moved to Houston, Texas to train with special coaches and began winning competitions.

She won many medals at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, including a gold medal in the all-around competition. This made her the first American woman to win this top honor. She also won silver and bronze medals in other events and was named Sports Illustrated Magazine's "Sportswoman of the Year."

Post-gymnastics career

Mary Lou Retton supported the Reagan administration and appeared in television ads for Ronald Reagan. She also took part in a rally for his reelection campaign in her home state of West Virginia.

Retton received many honors for her achievements. Her hometown named a road and a park after her. She was elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame and later inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. She also became the first woman inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame.

During the 1990s, Retton worked as a spokeswoman for a drugstore chain and appeared in many advertisements for products like bowling and shampoo. She was the first female athlete to be pictured on a Wheaties cereal box. Later, she became a spokesperson for a pain relief cream and an insurance company.

Lobbying against Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017

After some serious problems made news in 2016, a new law called the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 was suggested in the United States. Mary Lou Retton and others from USA Gymnastics talked to the person who suggested the law, Senator Dianne Feinstein, asking her to not move forward with it. However, the law was approved and started being used right away on February 14, 2018.

Film and TV appearances

Mary Lou Retton appeared in many TV shows and movies over the years. In 1985, she hosted a fitness show called ABC Funfit, which aired between Saturday morning cartoons. She also acted in films like Scrooged and Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult, and appeared in TV series such as Knots Landing, Baywatch, and An Evening at the Improv. Later, she had her own PBS show called Mary Lou's Flip Flop Shop, made a cameo in a RadioShack Super Bowl XLVIII commercial, and competed on the 27th season of Dancing with the Stars with partner Sasha Farber.

Personal life

Mary Lou Retton was born with a condition called hip dysplasia, which made her hips weaker. As a gymnast, this caused her more pain, and she needed several surgeries to replace her hips.

In 1990, she married Shannon Kelley, who used to play football at the University of Texas. They have four daughters named Shayla, McKenna, Skyla, and Emma. Two of her daughters also became gymnasts in college. The family lived in Houston, Texas, but moved to West Virginia for a while before returning to Houston in 2012. They divorced in 2018.

In October 2023, Retton got very sick with pneumonia. She did not have health insurance, so people helped raise money for her medical bills through crowdfunding. She recovered slowly at home with her family.

In May 2025, Retton was arrested for driving under the influence in West Virginia. She later admitted to the charge and paid a fine.