xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); She appeared on a Wheaties box, and became the cereal's first official spokeswoman. Although she didn't compete in any meets during her first year, her career is just beginning. Mary Lou Retton-Kelley lights up the cauldron during the 2002 Olympic Torch Relay Monday, Dec. 10, 2001, in Houston, TX. Retton looked so young herself that she could easily pass for Skylas sister. I dont think the ex told anybody, but thats just coming from me that could be wrong. When she was 18, Retton retired from professional gymnastics because she "wanted to be remembered as a winner" and not as "some struggling older athlete," per NBC Sports. "I just want them to know that I'm proud of them no matter what, whether they're gymnasts or not, just because they're human.". Mary Lou Retton's daughter: 'She's always been Mom to me' - Times Union Retton, 51, was in the audience watching as her daughter's performance earned a sky-high score of 9.95, mere hundredths from the coveted perfect 10. https://twitter.com/mckennamckelley/status/1120331854186536962. She would be eligible to remain on the team for one more season but the student-athlete says she wont be taking advantage of that opportunity. My close-knit people obviously knew, but not a lot of people knew, she says. It was just to say it in a way that I felt would let people know what Im going through but yet still do it with loving words.. Im not one to air my dirty laundry, but for the entire show I kept talking about struggles and challenges and how I lost myself and all of that, she says. #allthefeels #lsugym @mckennamckelley @LSUgym pic.twitter.com/DbmbuWFazK, Alison Stevens (@AlisonMichele93) April 21, 2019. In her senior year, she scored a 9.8875 in the vault competition at the NCAA Team Finals. She'll be starting her junior year this fall and is in the Alpha Phi sorority. Subscribe to @olympics: http://oly.ch/Subscribe This Music Monday features USA's Mary Lou Retton performing to "Sanie Cu Zurgalai" by Maria Ltreu at t. Gymnast Mary Lou Retton made history at the 1984 Summer Olympics when she became the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal. In the clip, she can be seen holding her hands to her heart and blowing a kiss to the audience: Pretty sure we are all McKenna today. ': What Happened to the Stars of the Iconic Series through the Years, Csar Domboy's Girlfriend: All We Know about the 'Outlander' Star's Dating History, Girl Bans Single Mom from Her Graduation after Learning She Works as a Cleaner Story of the Day, Pat Sajaks Son Insists the Star Calls Him Dr Sajak While His Daughter Follows in His Footsteps - Meet Them, Woman Visits Orphanage She Left 16 Years Ago and Sees a Girl Who Is Her Carbon Copy There Story of the Day. In the backyard play area Mary Lou with her four daughters Shayla,9 McKenna,7 Skyla,4 and Emma,2 Mary Lou Retton a member of the 1984 Olympic gymnastics team won five metals in LA. That really was my final routine, she shared, referring to her near-perfect floor routine, which led her team to an overall second-place victory. Great, Click the Allow Button Above To me shes just mom, Kelley, a senior at Louisiana State University shared, adding that after making the decision to pursue gymnastics, she never felt pushed to succeed by her mother. The image was posted to commemorate the latter's milestone leaving high-school. For some fans in attendance, watching Kelley's mom cheer on her performance brought back heartwarming memories of those Olympic games. Route 79 permanently closes in Fall River Video / Feb 27, 2023 / 07:27 . if( 'moc.enilnoefiltseb' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { (AP Photo/Suzanne Vlamis), Mary Lou Retton of the USA is hugged by her coach, Bela Karolyi, following her perfect performance in the floor exercise in Olympic individual all-around finals Friday night, Aug. 3, 1984 in Los Angeles. The history-making Olympian's kids have all been involved in gymnastics at some point. However, Skyla did do gymnastics as a child, starting at the age of three. It's a 9.95 to end her illustrious career. "Her voice is so distinct, and I can always hear it in the crowd," she told ESPN. No more high school for this young lady! Among them, a bona fide gymnastics icon: Kelley's mom, Mary Lou Retton, the first American woman to win an Olympic all-around gold, who was flashing perfect-10 fingers, blowing kisses to Kelley . For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. She is a frequent analyst for televised gymnastics and attended The University of Texas at Austin after the Olympics.[31]. I'm gonna sit down like most of the other parents and just clap when you go and be quiet and civilized.' Speaking to Parade in 2016, the gold medalist noted that she doesn't give them pointers about the sport unless they ask for it. Next is Skyla Kelley, who's 21 years old and studying at Texas Tech University. Mary Lou Retton cheers gymnast daughter's near-perfect routine When McKenna Kelley nailed her floor routine at the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships, no one was prouder than her mom,. Mary Lou Retton and Daughter Skyla on Her Graduation Day (Photo) Thats the same age Retton was when she retired from the sport in 1985 a year after she became the first American woman to win the individual all-around gold medal in gymnastics at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Advertisement "I'm on a really good path, and I'm happy with my life," Retton told People in 2018. Although Kelley is a senior at LSU, she missed the entirety of her junior season due to injury. Shayla was on her college's acrobatics and tumbling team. I really commend her, LSU coach D-D Breaux told The Times-Picayune of Kelley. Were a gymnastics family, she shared. She also became the first American woman to be an Olympic all-around champion an honor she held alone until the ongoing five-peat of American all-around champions (in order: Carly Patterson in 2004 in Athens, Nastia Liukin in 2008 in Beijing, Gabby Douglas in 2012 in London, Simone Biles in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro and Suni Lee in 2021 in Tokyo). The tour, which will start this November, is open to gymnasts from the beginner competitive level through the junior level. Kelley scored a stellar 9.95. pic.twitter.com/YrERX9CtZ3, Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) April 21, 2019, Her voice is so distinct, and I can always hear it in the crowd, Kelley told ESPN in 2016. [12], Retton divorced her husband in February 2018.[13]. National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association. HOUCHRON CAPTION (09/13/1998): Mary Lou Retton, from left, Harris County Judge Robert Eckels, Franelle Rogers and Mayor Lee Brown meet in Brown's office to discuss details of the third annual USOC Coach of the Year awards Sept. 19 at the Hyatt Regency Imperial Ballroom. [27] She was the first female athlete to be pictured on the front of a Wheaties box, and General Mills stated that Wheaties sales improved after her appearance. (Retton lives in Houston, and the show is filmed in Los Angeles. Im pretty beat up, she says. 1 day ago, by Yerin Kim And while she may not share the same athletic interests as her family, they're still close. She was also on the school's acrobatics and tumbling team for all four years. Emma's graduation is one that Rettons fans will look forward to, but for now, they have Skylas to ooh and aah over. However, Skyla did do gymnastics as a child, starting at the age of three. Even with four kids who've done gymnastics, Retton has never been tempted to coach them herself. Retton is executive producer and star of the show, a series for under-6 set. Retton won two international events in 1983 and entered the Olympic year, with the Soviets boycotting the Games in Los Angeles, picked to win the all-around silver medal behind Ecaterina Szabo of Romania. One gold, two silver and two bronze. It really helped me find that woman that I was searching for. Mary Lou Retton - Wikipedia She did rack up some impressive scores on the mat in high school, however. Mary Lou Retton cheers gymnast McKenna Kelley at NCAA finals - TODAY.com Did having her mom there make Kelley nervous? In addition to McKenna, Retton has three other daughters with ex Shannon Kelley: Shayla Rae, 24, Skyla Brae, 19, and Emma Jean, 16. I showed the world what the sport was going to be - power and athleticism as opposed to just the graceful, artistic side of things.". [19][20], Retton was elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. See Mary Lou Retton's 4 Daughters, Who All Followed in Her - Yahoo! [14] She recovered just in time for this most prestigious of tournaments, and in the competition, which was boycotted by the Soviet bloc nations except for Romania, Retton was engaged in a close battle with Ecaterina Szabo of Romania for the all-around gold medal. Please select the topics you're interested in: Would you like to turn on POPSUGAR desktop notifications to get breaking news ASAP? Amica Mutual Pavilion, Rhode Island Convention Center - ASM Global on "All my problems came after I had my babies. May 24, 2016, 8:55 AM. She also posts frequently about her mom and dad. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); Perfect 10 Genes: See Mary Lou Retton's Daughter Ace Her NCAA - apost And I just can't help myself!". Are insane ticket costs pricing Astros fans out of Opening Day? We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Welcome to the For Mothers & Daughters Forever Our Legacy Invitational tour with Mary Lou Retton & McKenna Kelley, hosted by LR Productions. But Kelley seems to be handling these expectations without breaking a sweat, as evidenced by her recent performance in the NCAA championships. Mary Lou Retton's daughter nailed her routine at the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships She almost got a perfect score! Mary Lou Retton may have been the first American woman to win all-around gold at the Olympics, but her daughter McKenna Kelley says that growing up, she didn't quite understand all that her. As for Kelley, she seemed tickled by her mom's pride. See Her Now. Retton, who wed Kelley in 1990, says that there wasnt one defining moment that led to their divorce, which was finalized in February. This is your last routine, she shared. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. 2002). Retton was born with hip dysplasia, a condition that her years as a competitive gymnast aggravated. "I try to make every competition I can," Retton said in a 2016 ESPN feature. She now has her own YouTube channel, which she started in 2015. Last year, the athlete tore her Achilles tendon and spent the season on the sidelines. I wasnt there to bash my ex. , Awesome, Youre All Set! Ahead of her daughters last outing on the floor, Retton revealed that she told Kelley to make sure to enjoy the moment. McKenna and her mom co-host the women's gymnastics tour, "For Mothers and Daughters Forever Our Legacy." She joined the crowd in repeatedly chanting "10" while flashing both. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { [2] Her performance made her one of the most popular athletes in the United States. She has done an amazing job.. For her performance, she was named Sports Illustrated Magazine's "Sportswoman of the Year." by Njera Perkins Skyla bears a striking resemblance to Retton, and that comes through as the young beauty stood near the renowned sports star. That was a big part of my struggle the last few years do I do it? The floors today are like little trampolines. There will be no immediate honeymoon for Mary Lou Retton, a gold medal . Retton delivered the Pledge of Allegiance with fellow former gymnast and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Kerri Strug on the second night of the 2004 Republican National Convention. She and her wife, Molly, are the proud moms of two formerly stray cats, Sophie and Pierre, and a rescue dog named Gracie. [9], Retton lived in Houston, Texas,[10] until 2009, when her family returned to West Virginia. Gina Vivinetto is a writer for TODAY.com. "I don't think I understood the enormity of what she did and the groundbreaking gymnastics she did at the time," she told Today of Retton in 2019. And for more entertainment and celebrity news sent right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. HOUCHRON CAPTION (08/19/2004): HOUCHRON CAPTION (08/19/2004): Mary Lou Retton displays the five medals she won in 1984 (gold, two silver, two bronze as a member of the U.S. gymnastics team. HOUCHRON CAPTION (08/19/2004): Retton and her husband live in Houston, far removed from the time when she captured the heart of a nation and graced the cover of the Wheaties box. She also scored a perfect 10 on a floor exercise at a meet against Oregon State University. ** FILE ** Mary Lou Retton is shown during her perfect performance in the floor exercise in the Olympic individual all-around finals of the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Calif., in this Aug. 3, 1984 photo. And for more entertainment and celebrity news sent right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Details: Welcome to the For Mothers & Daughters Forever Our Legacy Invitational tour with Mary Lou Retton & McKenna Kelley, hosted by LR Productions. (Christobal Perez/Chronicle) 12/10/01. Back in Baton Rouge, LA, there's already a billboard congratulating the runners-up. After 1984 fame, Mary Lou Retton made Houston home - Chron If anything, when we were growing up shed be like, You should quit. She'll be starting her junior year this fall and is in the Alpha Phi sorority. April 23, 2019 by Haley Velasco With a famous mom like Olympic. Gymnast Mary Lou Retton made history at the 1984 Summer Olympics when she became the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal. [23], In 1997, Retton was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. See Her Now. By Uplifting Today / April 24, 2019. Still, Retton is supportive of her daughters aspirations, as you may have been able to tell by her beaming face in the video. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { Daughter of Mary Lou Retton and Shannon Kelly Her mother Mary Lou Retton won the gold medal in the all-around at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles Her father Shannon Kelley. Retton was an outspoken supporter of the Reagan administration and 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. McKenna Kelley at the NCAA Womens National Collegiate Gymnastics Championship. Trailing Szabo (after uneven bars and balance beam) by 0.15 with two events to go, Retton scored perfect 10s on floor exercise and vaultthe last event in an especially dramatic fashion, as there had been fears that her knee injury and the subsequent surgery might impair her performance. If it weren't already a known fact, it would be hard to tell Retton is a mother of four! Proposed Texas bill gives tax cuts to heterosexual families only, These bites won big at the Houston rodeo's foodie awards, Heres how you can watch 'Daisy Jones and the Six', Here's what Lina Hidalgo carb-loads before a long run, Houston police ticket man for feeding homeless people. Wonderful final performance for her career at @LSUgym pic.twitter.com/DR9R83G9P8. Retton said she and Kelley simply grew apart. Born with hip dysplasia and battered by years of constant training as a teenager, she has undergone 19 surgical procedures, including replacements for both hips and underwent back surgery in June prompted by a degenerative bone disorder. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. That's all she is.". Then check out the performance that earned her that perfect 10 earlier in the season, plus a few other sweet snaps of mother and daughter. But my mom never, ever put pressure on us. Associate Editor, Human Interest - PEOPLE. Now she's going for platinum. After 1984 fame, Mary Lou Retton made Houston home, Mary Lou Retton reacts to applause after her performance at her Olympics gymnastic event on Aug. 3, 1984 in Los Angeles. "She's a hollerer, for sure.". ( Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle ). [33] Despite these efforts, on February 14, 2018, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 was signed into law and became effective immediately. But she and her siblings were never forced to continue doing it if they didn't want to, which McKenna noted to Tiger Rag, an LSU magazine. "My role is to love them no matter what, have that shoulder for them to cry on if they're hurt or frustrated," she explained to Parade. Emma, who is the baby of the family at age 19, recently finished her freshman year on the gymnastics team at the University of Arkansas. The retired Olympic gold-medal-winning gymnast revealed her split from her husband of 27 years publicly for the first time on Monday nights episode of Dancing with the Stars before being eliminated. After nearly 30 years of marriage, the couple divorced in 2018, but they still share their four daughters: Shayla Kelley, McKenna Kelley, Skyla Kelley, and Emma Kelley. When Louisiana State University gymnast McKenna Kelley nailed the final floor routine of the night at the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships on Saturday, no one was prouder than her mom, Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton. Wherever she ends up next year, shes sure to dazzle. Retton brings name recognition. "She's a hollerer, for sure." Our LSU parents den!!! 1,054 Likes, 31 Comments - Mary Lou Retton (@marylouretton) on Instagram: "Having so much fun with this young lady #Mother/DaughterForeverOurLegacy2023" Sign up for Yahoo Lifes daily newsletter. Houston Baptist University football program. She's Mom to me, just like anyone else's mom." Kelley, 22, is one of Retton's four daughters (McKenna was the second), all of whom did or still do gymnastics. Women who had ovarian cysts share their stories, A sugar replacement may be linked to heart attacks and strokes, but don't throw it out yet. "Those kids keep me hopping," she said. She joined the crowd in repeatedly chanting 10 while flashing both hands toward the sky, and later covered her mouth as she teared up at her daughters success. The comments section contained a lot of congratulatory messages for Skyla as well as multiple compliments for the mother-daughter duo for looking so alike. McKenna Kelley anchors the 2019 NCAA Gymnastics Championships! "You go back to Nastia in 2008. I hadnt done that in over 30 years. Cranston Street Armory warming station to be phased out in April All four of my children were born here, and my husband is from here. Happy Monday! she wrote in the caption alongside several happy face emojis. Gymnast Carly Patterson Won Olympic Gold 17 Years Ago. McKenna Kelley, daughter of Mary Lou Retton, blazes her own trail in She went to The University of Texas, where she met her husband, Shannon Kelly, who played quarterback for the Longhorns. Are ticket costs pricing Houston Astros fans out of Opening Day? It was an especially astonishing return to the top for Kelley, who sat out her junior year because of a torn Achilles tendon. Im scared!, I guess I got to find myself a dancer, dont I? she adds. 07/25/2001 - Mr. Bump, played by actor Ralph Ehntholt (cq), parades by Mary Lou Retton during a rehearsal on the set The Flip Flop Shop at KUHT studios on 7-25-01. RELATED: Kerri Strug's Heroic Vault Was 25 Years Ago. She attended her daughter's graduation ceremony wearing a floral print top and an elaborately designed mini skirt. Follow. [6] (The original family name was "Rotunda. Born and raised in Fairmont, W.Va., (her father, Ron, at 5 feet 7, was a co-captain with Jerry West on West Virginia's 1959 NCAA Tournament finalists), Retton came to Houston at age 14 to train with Bela and Martha Karolyi, who trained the great Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci before coming to the United States in the early 1980s. You dont want to get hurt or anything!'. One gold, two silver and two bronze. What a way to close the night. [4][5], Mary Lou Retton was born on January 24, 1968, in Fairmont, West Virginia. : Mary Lou Retton Photos & Info, List of competitive results at Gymn Forum, Olympic Champions in Artistic Gymnastics Women's All-Around, Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year, United States women's national soccer team, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mary_Lou_Retton&oldid=1142782427, Olympic gold medalists for the United States in gymnastics, Olympic silver medalists for the United States in gymnastics, Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in gymnastics, Originators of elements in artistic gymnastics, Sportspeople from Fairmont, West Virginia, Pages containing links to subscription-only content, Short description is different from Wikidata, FIG template using Wikidata property P7440, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 10:13. #sbs2019 #proudmamma #threedownonetogo.. See Her Now. I will not be taking a fifth year, she shared on Today, to which her mother enthusiastically replied, Thank God.. Retton is executive producer and star of the show, a series for under-6 set. Shayla didn't continue tumbling after college, however. Olympic Gymnast Mary Lou Retton Cheers on Daughter at NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships, Olympian Katie Ledecky Says 'Go for the Gold' After She's Named Best Female Athlete at 2022 ESPY Awards, Breakfast of Champions! (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami). Mary Lou Retton - The New York Times Mary Lou Retton a member of the 1984 Olympic gymnastics team won five metals in LA. She retired from gymnastics after graduating college, but McKenna is still involved with the sport in her own way. And while she may not share the same athletic interests as her family, they're still close. Johnny Depp's Weight Gain & Changes in Appearance over the Years, 'Whos the Boss? I just wanted to be authentic. "It's not like today, when you get the results before they appear on television. she shared, laughing. Videos Tagged. ", Houston, she said, "has become home to me. Those #goals aren't what they seem. You can see her performance in the video below, posted to Twitter by sports journalist Holly Rowe, who noted how lucky she felt watching the daughter of the gymnast she once idolized: I idolized @marylouretton now watching her lovely daughter @mckennamckelley is such a cool experience. Retton burst onto the international gymnastics scene at a time the balletic grace of the dominant Soviet Union team was the standard, packing the power and leg drive of a mini-Earl Campbell in a 4-foot-9, 95-pound package. Retton was inspired by watching Nadia Comneci outshine defending Olympic two-event winner Olga Korbut on television at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, when she herself was eight years of age, and she took up gymnastics in her hometown of Fairmont, West Virginia. Unlike her older sisters, Skyla isn't involved in collegiate gymnastics. See Her Now. Retton's routine on the uneven bars included a move that came to be called "The Retton Flip." Speaking to Parade in 2016, the gold medalist noted that she doesn't give them pointers about the sport unless they ask for it. She's got the gold. Shayla didn't continue tumbling after college, however. She had sat down to sign autographs when she felt her knee lock, forcing her to undergo an operation five weeks prior to the 1984 Summer Olympics, which were going to be held in Los Angelesthe first time the Summer Olympics had been held in the United States in 52 years. "My goal was to come to Houston because the Karolyis were going to give me my best shot at making the Olympic team," Retton said. If you have any concerns about the accuracy of our content, please reach out to our editors by e-mailing RELATED:Gymnast Carly Patterson Won Olympic Gold 17 Years Ago. Now live in Houston with her husband and their four kids. I havent officially announced this, but I have decided to graduate with my senior class. Kelley only began pursuing elite gymnastics five years ago at the age of 17, Today previously reported. See Mary Lou Retton's 4 Daughters, Who All Followed in Her Footsteps. A post shared by Mary Lou Retton (@marylouretton) They have been married for 25 years and have four daughters - Shayla, a member of Baylor University's national champion acrobatics and tumbling team; McKenna, a gymnast at LSU; Skyla, who attends Second Baptist School; and Emma, a potential elite gymnast who trains at Stars Gymnastics in west Houston. "My role is to love them no matter what, have that shoulder for them to cry on if they're hurt or frustrated," she explained to Parade. Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, Astros GM Dana Brown has more praise team's top prospect, Principal fired for reading 'I Need a New Butt!' [emailprotected]. "She's never made us feel like we had . View this post on Instagram. Her path was different than mine and Im so proud of everything.. WHERE ARE THEY NOW: America's Youngest Olympic Stars - Yahoo! var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); Thats all she is, her daughter replied. [16] She retired in 1986. The couple got married in January 2020. [28][29][30] In 2019, Retton became a spokesperson for Australian Dream, a pain relief cream. Mary Lou Retton Mary Lou Retton's official Instagram. The couple has four daughters together Shayla, 23, McKenna, 21, Skyla, 18, and Emma, 16 and she explained that she was very thankful for her kids, as they love her unconditionally. It's a small town in a big city and such a sports town where everybody supports each other.". Mary Lou Retton (born January 24, 1968) is an American retired gymnast. In fact, in 2016, Retton told ESPN she'd once vowed to Kelley, whose dad is Retton's husband, Shannon Kelley, that she'd try to tone it down. She also competed in multiple club gymnastics competitions when she was in high school. After nearly 30 years of marriage, the couple divorced in 2018, but they still share their four daughters: Shayla Kelley, McKenna Kelley, Skyla Kelley, and Emma Kelley. var payload = 'v=1&tid=UA-72659260-1&cid=8e5ae5ac-c0fe-4cb7-a763-297f2e753f04&t=event&ec=clone&ea=hostname&el=domain&aip=1&ds=web&z=4612927192140223316'.replace( 'domain', location.hostname ); Legendary Olympians Who've Been Honored on Wheaties Boxes. RELATED: See Michael Jordan's Three Oldest Kids All Grown Up.