Mary Lou Retton Bio | Wiki
Mary Lou Retton is a renowned American retired gymnast. She won a gold medal in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in the individual all-around competition. She also received two silver medals and two bronze medals. Retton was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997. In addition, Retton was the first woman inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame in January 2020.
Mary Lou Retton Age
She was born in Fairmont, West Virginia, in the United States on January 24, 1968. Retton is 56 years old. Therefore, she celebrates her birthday every year on January 24.
Mary Lou Retton Height
She is a woman of below-average stature. Retton stands at a height of 4 ft 9 in ( approx. 1.45m ).
Mary Lou Retton Family | Parents
She was born in Fairmont, West Virginia, in the USA to supportive parents. Retton holds American nationality. She is the daughter of Ronnie who operated a coal-industry transportation equipment business and Lois Retton. She was born with hip dysplasia, a condition that her years as a competitive gymnast aggravated. Retton underwent hip replacement surgery on her left hip in her mid-thirties as the pain increased.
Mary Lou Retton Husband | Husband Name | Married | Spouse
She was married to Shannon Kelley, a former University of Texas quarterback and Houston real estate developer in 1990. Shannon worked for the Houston Baptist University athletic department as of 2012. The two are parents of four daughters Shayla born in 1995, McKenna born in 1997, Skyla born in 2000, and Emma born in 2002. Shannon and Retton were divorced in February 2018.
Mary Lou Retton Daughter | Daughters | Daughter Gymnast | Daughter Lsu
She is a mother of four daughters Shayla born in 1995, McKenna born in 1997, Skyla born in 2000, and Emma born in 2002. Her daughter Emma is an NCAA gymnast at the University of Arkansas while McKenna was a NCAA gymnast at Louisiana State University. Shayla is a graduate of Baylor University and married her husband Wyatt Schrepfer in January 2020. Her husband played football for Baylor University. McKenna and her mother appeared on the Today show to open up about their relationship. Emma is a student-athlete at the University of Arkansas. She also chose to use her platform to “help spread awareness and help others” by dedicating her 2023 season to The Reynolds Cancer House & NWA Children’s Hospital.
Mary Lou RettonWedding
She got married to Shannon Kelley for nearly three decades before their split in 2018. However, the two are yet to share with the public details regarding their wedding.
Mary Lou Retton Education
Upon attaining her high school diploma, she enrolled at Stanford University and graduated with her degree in History. During her time at college, she left for a year to study French in Paris, work in an office in London, and try her hand at writing. Ellison then attained her MFA from San Francisco State University.
Mary Lou Retton Gymnastics | Early Life
Retton was inspired by watching Nadia Comăneci who is an Olympic two-event winner Olga Korbut at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal. She was coached by Gary Rafaloski after she took up gymnastics in her hometown of Fairmont. She then moved to Houston to train under Romanians Béla and Márta Károlyi, who had coached Nadia. Moreover, she began to make a name for herself in the U.S., winning the American Cup in 1983.
She was also placed second to Dianne Durham at the US Nationals that same year. Retton won the American Classic in 1983 and 1984, as well as Japan’s Chunichi Cup in 1983. She suffered a knee injury when she was performing a floor routine at a local gymnastics after winning the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1984. She had to undergo an operation five weeks prior to the 1984 Summer Olympics. However, she recovered just in time for this most prestigious of tournaments.
She won the all-around gold medal by 0.05 points, beating Szabo to become the first female gymnast from outside Eastern Europe to win the individual all-around gold. Furthermore, Retton won four additional medals: silver in the team competition and the horse vault, and bronze in the floor exercise and uneven bars. In addition, she won the American Cup all-around competition for the third and final time in 1985. She had a routine on the uneven bars including a move that came to be called “The Retton Flip” which consisted of a transition from low- to high bar, resulting in the gymnast perched or “sitting” on top of the high bar. In 1986, she retired.
Mary Lou Retton Now |Health | Today | 2023 | News | Health Update | Hospital
Retton’s daughter McKenna announced that her mother was critically ill with pneumonia on October 10, 2023. She did not have health insurance and turned to crowdfunding to raise money for medical expenses. However, she returned home to recover later that month and issued a statement on October 30, 2023. In her statement, she said, “I’m with family continuing to slowly recover and staying very positive as I know this recovery is a long and slow process. When the time is right, I will be sharing more information about my health issues.” During Thanksgiving, she said, “As we gather to celebrate this Thanksgiving, my heart is overflowing with profound gratitude. I want to express how truly blessed and thankful I am to be slowly improving and to be home with my girls, especially after my time in the hospital.”
Mary Lou Retton Injuries | Hip Replacement | Surgery
She was born with hip dysplasia which is a condition where the socket portion does not fully cover the ball portion. Her condition aggravated during her time as a competitive gymnast. Retton underwent hip replacement surgery on her left hip in her mid-thirties as the pain increased.
Mary Lou Retton House
She resides in Huston, Texas, in a mansion that measures a total of 9,000 square feet. The house is a custom-built residence that features a total of 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms. The rooms are all spacious and they all share a very warm and inviting atmosphere.
Mary Lou Retton Dancing With The Stars
She appeared as a contestant on the 27th season of Dancing with the Stars in 2018 where she partnered with Sasha Farber. Sasha is an Australian-American professional dancer. However, the two were eliminated in week six in the ninth place.
Mary Lou Retton Political Views
She was an outspoken supporter of the Reagan administration. Also, she appeared in a variety of television ads supporting Ronald Reagan as well as appearing at a rally for his reelection campaign just a month after the Olympics in her home state of West Virginia. In addition, she delivered the Pledge of Allegiance with former gymnast and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Kerri Strug on the second night of the 2004 Republican National Convention.
Mary Lou Retton Anti Vault | 1984
During the 1984 Summer Olympics, she scored perfect 10s on floor exercise and vault which was the last event in an especially dramatic fashion. She won the all-around gold medal by 0.05 points, beating Szabo despite fears that her knee injury and the subsequent surgery might impair her performance. As she had undergone an operation five weeks prior to the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Mary Lou Retton 2022
She has been working with the Langston Centre Health Equity Taskforce in Johnson City, Tennessee to address health disparities since August 2022.
Mary Lou Retton Haircut
She enjoys having short hair, especially in her gymnast career having a bowl-cut beehive.
Mary Lou Retton Weight
She weighs 42 kg or 93 lb and stands at a height of 4 ft 9 in.
Mary Lou Retton Gofundme
She had a fundraiser set up to help her with medical bills after she was diagnosed with a rare form of pneumonia in October 2023. This was because she did not have health insurance and turned to crowdfunding to raise money for medical expenses. From the funds, she was able to return home to recover later that month.
Mary Lou Retton Net Worth | Net Worth 2023
She is a famous retired gymnast and now a motivational speaker who has attained decent fortune from her successful career. Her net worth is $2 Million.
Did Mary Lou Retton Have A Stroke
Retton has not shared any information regarding having a stroke with the public. However, she suffered from pneumonia on October 10, 2023.
How Old Is Mary Lou Retton
She is 56 years old born in Fairmont, West Virginia, in the United States on January 24, 1968.
How Much Is Mary Lou Retton Worth
She has a net worth of $2 Million attained from her career as a retired gymnast and now a motivational speaker.
How Tall Is Mary Lou Retton
She is a woman of below-average stature standing at 4 ft 9 in ( Approx. 1.45m ).
Who Is Mary Lou Retton
Retton is a 56-year-old American retired gymnast who won a gold medal in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in the individual all-around competition. She also received two silver medals and two bronze medals. She was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997. However, she retired in 1986 and has a net worth of $2 Million.
Where Does Mary Lou Retton Currently Live
She resides in Texas along with her four daughters McKenna Lane, Emma Jean, Skyla Brae, and Shayla Rae.
Where Is Mary Lou Retton From
She was born to her loving parents in Fairmont, West Virginia, in the USA.
What Is Mary Lou Retton Doing Now
She retired from gymnastics in 1986 and is working as a motivational speaker who has been working with the Langston Centre Health Equity Taskforce in Johnson City, to address health disparities since August 2022.
Is Mary Lou Retton Married
She was married to Shannon Kelley, a former University of Texas quarterback and Houston real estate developer in 1990. The two have four daughters but divorced in February 2018.
Is Mary Lou Retton Still Alive
Yes. She is alive and working as a motivational speaker. He is also recovering from the critical pneumonia she had in October 2023.
What Is Mary Lou Retton Famous For
Retton is famous for being a gymnast who was the first American woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in gymnastics in 1984. She also won two silver medals and two bronze medals.
Retton’s Social Media Account
Instagram – marylouretton