I hadnt done that in over 30 years. 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. She graduated from Baylor University in 2017 with a major in Health Science. Ronnie and Lois Retton are her parents. RELATED: Nadia Comneci Scored a Perfect 10 at the Olympics 45 Years Ago. Gymnast Carly Patterson Won Olympic Gold 17 Years Ago. But what she chooses remains to be seen. McKenna, who's now 24, was co-championof the Nastia Liukin Cup, an annual U.S. competition hosted by the former Olympian, in 2014. She is a frequent analyst for televised gymnastics and attended The University of Texas at Austin after the Olympics.[31]. Kelley only began pursuing elite gymnastics five years ago at the age of 17, Today previously reported. https://twitter.com/mckennamckelley/status/1120331854186536962. } ); RELATED: Kerri Strug's Heroic Vault Was 25 Years Ago. For some fans in attendance, watching Kelley's mom cheer on her performance brought back heartwarming memories of those Olympic games. "I tell her every season, 'McKenna, I'm really gonna do it this season. 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. Route 79 permanently closes in Fall River Video / Feb 27, 2023 / 07:27 . In the photo, the mother-daughter duo were all smiles with Skyla standing tall beside her world-famous mother. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { [3] 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. Ill probably have some more operations in the future, but its alright.. The perfect tummy control bodysuit, a popcorn gadget, more bestsellers starting at $8. Retton, who wed Kelley in 1990, says that there wasnt one defining moment that led to their divorce, which was finalized in February. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. xhr.send(payload); Under the Krolyis, Retton soon began to make a name for herself in the U.S., winning the American Cup in 1983 and placing second to Dianne Durham (another Krolyi student) at the US Nationals that same year. The team's last floor routine of the night was a high-octane, floor-pounding performance from McKenna Kelley that earned a score of 9.95, mere hundredths from the coveted perfect 10. 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The teenage beauty was pictured wearing the traditional graduation attire a navy blue graduation gown with oversized sleeves and cap. Mary Lou Retton (born January 24, 1968) is an American retired gymnast. foreverourlegacy.org. Last year, the athlete tore her Achilles tendon and spent the season on the sidelines. May Lou five medals on display in her home. She attended Fairmont Senior High School, but did not graduate. But McKenna Kelley, who exhibits the . 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. View this. The former Olympic gymnast is executive producer and star of the show, a series for children ages 6 and under. Registered gymnasts will receive a custom GK leotard. She posts videos about her daily life, which often feature her siblings and husband, Wyatt Schrepfer, who also studied at Baylor University. Retton looked so young herself that she could easily pass for Skylas sister. With a famous mom like Olympic gymnastics superstar Mary Lou Retton, there must be some pressure for her daughter, McKenna Kelley, to take up the mantle of gymnastics greatness. 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 . 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. 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. Over the years, the Olympic champion and her enthusiastic cheers from the stands have been a constant presence at her daughter's competitions. All four of their children. This is your last routine, she shared. She does have the option of returning as a fifth-year senior, however. And like her mom, she couldnt help but share an image of her newly won awards. My last thought to you was, Remember this. My words were, remember this, baby girl. 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. After all, Retton was the first American woman to ever win an Olympic all-around gold at the 1984 summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. Mary Lou Retton a member of the 1984 Olympic gymnastics team won five metals in LA. 1995), McKenna (b. "She's a hollerer, for sure.". She went to The University of Texas, where she met her husband, Shannon Kelly, who played quarterback for the Longhorns. There will be no immediate honeymoon for Mary Lou Retton, a gold medal . Gymnast Carly Patterson Won Olympic Gold 17 Years Ago. After winning her second American Cup, the U.S. Nationals, and the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1984, Retton suffered a knee injury when she was performing a floor routine at a local gymnastics center at this time. That would be really amazing if I found myself a dancer. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau), Mayor: HISD has two optionsclose school or be taken over, Rare photos show 2 ocelots crossing South Texas road, Willie Nelson pays lovely tribute to another country legend. 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. Now live in Houston with her husband and their four kids. By Uplifting Today / April 24, 2019. See Her Now. Speaking to Parade in 2016, the gold medalist noted that she doesn't give them pointers about the sport unless they ask for it. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Kerri Strug's Heroic Vault Was 25 Years Ago. As Kelley stood up to take a final bow, the sea of purple-and-gold-clad fans went wild. 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. NO MORE HIGH SCHOOL FOR THIS YOUNG LADY. She appeared on a Wheaties box, and became the cereal's first official spokeswoman. 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. "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. Instead of pursuing gymnastics, Skyla was on the cheerleading team during her four years of high school. View this post on Instagram #grateful A post. That's all she is.". 1984 Olympic Gymnastics all-around champion, President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017, List of Olympic female gymnasts for the United States, List of Olympic medal leaders in women's gymnastics, "Mary Lou RETTON - Olympic Gymnastics Artistic - United States of America", "Amazing Moments in Olympic History- Mary Lou Retton", "Biography of Mary Lou Retton, Olympic Gymnastics Champion", "Boston.com Local Search Boston Globe Archives", "Doing it her way: Mary Lou Retton teaches healthy attitudes to her kids and, now, the rest of us", "HBU Huskies Football Names Shannon Kelley Offensive Assistant Coach", "Mary Lou Retton Divorces Husband Shannon Kelley After 27 Years of Marriage: 'I Felt Very Alone', "Mary Lou beams after sticking her vault to capture the all", "Mary Lou Retton Reflects On 1985 American Cup Win, Retirement Decision", "Election 2004: Republican Convention Schedule and Viewer's Guide", "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement", Retton, Hammill most popular American athletes, "Houston Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2020 - HCHSA | Harris County Houston Sports Authority", "For Retton, the Gold Still Glitters;Pressure, Time and Change Mature '84 Olympic Gymnastics Champion", "Prowess alone won't get an athlete on Wheaties", "Text - S.534 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017", "Facing Congress, Some Sports Officials (Not All) Begin to Confront Sexual Abuse", "Mary Lou Retton. [3], Her gold medal win was historic as Retton was the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal in Olympic gymnastics. Retton's daughter McKenna Kelley followed in her mother's footsteps, competing in gymnastics for Louisiana State University in 2019. After experiencing increased pain from the condition, she underwent hip replacement surgery on her left hip in her mid-thirties. See Her Now. A very touching moment late, as @LSUgym @mckennamckelley performs her final floor routine as a Tiger, with her legendary mother Mary Lou Retton in tears looking on. I'm gonna sit down like most of the other parents and just clap when you go and be quiet and civilized.' RETTON AND SKYLAS RESEMBLANCE DID NOT GO UNNOTICED. Even with four kids who've done gymnastics, Retton has never been tempted to coach them herself. she shared, laughing. ), I got away and just started over, she says. Mary Lou Retton wrote "Gateways to Happiness" to share her philosophy about success and life. 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. [26], Retton has many commercial endorsements, including bowling and shampoo. HOUCHRON CAPTION (07/31/2001): Mary Lou Retton talks to actress Alicia Church, who plays "Jumpy," on the set of "Mary Lou's Flip Flop Shop" at KUHT studios. This move, and many others like it, were removed from the Code of Points of artistic gymnastics due to old-style "belly beat" moves having ceased to be used in bars competitions. [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. [12], Retton divorced her husband in February 2018.[13]. "If it didn't work out, I would go back to Fairmont, W.Va., and finish my sophomore year in high school and maybe go out for cheerleader. She also shared additional images of her performance on Twitter, writing, Tiger Nation, thank you!, https://twitter.com/mckennamckelley/status/1119975478130020354. 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. Shes a hollerer, for sure.. I think me coming out with that did help a lot of women., For Retton, the opportunity to participate on DWTS came at just the right time following her divorce, as she was looking to get away. Now, she says, shes ready for a new chapter. Emma is a rising sophomore on her college's gymnastics team. See Her Now. The couple got married in January 2020. 55 minutes ago, by Eden Arielle Gordon May 24, 2016, 8:55 AM. However, Skyla did do gymnastics as a child, starting at the age of three. Mary Lou Retton (born January 24, 1968) is an American retired gymnast. 744 posts. 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. Theres that fine line between a daughter and a friend, so theres a lot that I couldnt share with them. You see Dance Moms and you see how crazy those moms are and you just assume that an Olympic champion would want her child to be like that. She did rack up some impressive scores on the mat in high school, however. Legendary Olympians Who've Been Honored on Wheaties Boxes. Mary Lou Retton is a legendary gymnast who is best known for winning a gold medal in the Olympic all-around at the 1984 summer Olympics in Los Angeles. In addition to McKenna, Retton has three other daughters with ex Shannon Kelley: Shayla Rae, 24, Skyla Brae, 19, and Emma Jean, 16. 08/11/2004 (E. Joe Deering/Chronicle). "Very seldom, they'll come home and be having a problem on a skill or something and say, 'Mom, I'm having trouble, will you comment or what do you think. Last Christmas, she shared a photo of her and her sisters in matching pajamas on Instagram. 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,. The beautiful star was, however, more than happy to share that her grown daughter is on her way into adulthood. Are ticket costs pricing Houston Astros fans out of Opening Day? 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. She was also on the school's acrobatics and tumbling team for all four years. . Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Advertisement "I'm on a really good path, and I'm happy with my life," Retton told People in 2018. That's all she is.". 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 tour benefits The McKenna Kelly Foundation, which donates to non-profits focusing on mental health. I dont think I understood the enormity of what she did and the groundbreaking gymnastics she did at the time. This is a carousel. She has done an amazing job.. 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. Retton is executive producer and star of the show, a series for under-6 set. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); Im excited scared, but excited.. Associate Editor, Human Interest - PEOPLE. 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. Mary Lou Retton is an American retired gymnast and Olympian. Posts. She shared on the show that she had gotten divorced from husband Shannon Kelley, whom she married in 1990. Now she's going for platinum. She did rack up some impressive scores on the mat in high school, however. Im scared!, I guess I got to find myself a dancer, dont I? she adds. "Back in my day, I was kind of on the cutting edge," Retton said in an interview before Rio. RELATED: See Michael Jordan's Three Oldest Kids All Grown Up. Back in Baton Rouge, LA, there's already a billboard congratulating the runners-up. Follow. Instead of pursuing gymnastics, Skyla was on the cheerleading team during her four years of high school. She did not arrive at this point in her life unscathed. , Awesome, Youre All Set! 1997), and Emma (b. See Her Now. Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton and her daughter, McKenna Kelley, brought their gymnastics invitational to Rhode Island.Retton brings name recognition and st. Although she didn't compete in any meets during her first year, her career is just beginning. He has been a contributor to Dave Campbell's Texas Football since 1980, serving as high school editor from 1984 through 2000 and as Managing Editor from 1990 through 2004. One fan, @emmadilemma83 wrote alongside a heart emoji: She definitely has your smile!!!! In 1985, Retton won the American Cup all-around competition for the third and final time. However, Skyla did do gymnastics as a child, starting at the age of three. Kelley didn't pursue elite gymnastics until she was 17 the same age Retton was when she retired from the sport, just one year after her history-making victory at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Mary's father was also a former collegiate basketball player. I think people expect this elaborate answer of she made me run at 6 a.m in the morning but shes just mom to me. You know, all the things that come with a divorce of that magnitude with such a large family. Her university profile notes that, as a junior, Shayla qualified in three events at the National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association's Individual Championships and won one. She had gone away and I knew she was in there that strong, powerful, confident woman and I found her.. McKenna Kelley at the NCAA Womens National Collegiate Gymnastics Championship. And for more entertainment and celebrity news sent right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Thats all she is, her daughter replied. McKenna Kelley anchors the 2019 NCAA Gymnastics Championships! In addition to McKenna, Retton has three other daughters with ex Shannon Kelley: Shayla Rae, 24, Skyla Brae, 19, and Emma Jean, 16. [16] She retired in 1986. It's a 9.95 to end her illustrious career. Retton, 51, looked proud as could be of her daughter as she watched her perform in video captured from the Texas event. 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. [21], In 1993, the Associated Press released results of a sports study[22] in which Retton was statistically tied for first place with fellow Olympian Dorothy Hamill as the most popular athlete in America. This consisted of a transition (front flip) from low- to high-bar, resulting in the gymnast perched or "sitting" on top of the high bar. 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. : 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.. "Wow what a night! He joined the Houston Chronicle in 1990 after stints at the Dallas bureau of United Press International (1984-90), the Waco Tribune-Herald (1978-84) and the Tyler Morning Telegraph (1975-78). She emerged from the Olympics as the most photogenic, marketable athlete on the U.S. team, becoming the first female athlete to be depicted on a Wheaties box and launching a life of celebrity that receded but has never gone away. RELATED:Gymnast Carly Patterson Won Olympic Gold 17 Years Ago. Gosh it brings it all back!!! 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. You dont want to get hurt or anything!'. 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. Her university profile notes that she finished in fourth place at the Texas State Championship 2016, with a score of 9.8 in vault and 9.675 in floor exercise. The image was posted to commemorate the latter's milestone leaving high-school. McKenna, the second of Retton's four daughters with former Texas quarterback Shannon Kelley, started mommy-and-me gymnastics classes at age 2 and rarely left the gym after that. Registered gymnasts will receive a custom GK leotard. If you have any concerns about the accuracy of our content, please reach out to our editors by e-mailing Our LSU parents den!!! Retton won the gold medal in the event. I will not be taking a fifth year, she shared on Today, to which her mother enthusiastically replied, Thank God.. McKenna then took her gymnastics career to the collegiate level at Louisiana State University. "No one had ever seen a gymnast like me. That was my thinking.". She was one of the most beautiful gymnasts I've ever seen. "She's a hollerer, for sure." At the same Olympics, Retton won four additional medals: silver in the team competition and the horse vault, and bronze in the floor exercise and uneven bars. She retired from gymnastics after graduating college, but McKenna is still involved with the sport in her own way. Mary Lou Retton was the first American female to have an Olympic all-around gold. 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. Gosh it brings it all back!!! One gold, two silver and two bronze. McKenna, who's now 24, was co-champion of the Nastia Liukin Cup, an annual U.S. competition hosted by the former Olympian, in 2014. Ice Skating Stars of the '90s and '00s: Where Are They Now? book to class, Turner: TEA is giving Houston ISD two optionsclose school or be taken over, Two ocelots were photographed crossing a road in rare South Texas sighting, Willie Nelson's new album is a lovely tribute to a fellow country legend. To see Mary Lou Retton's four daughters, read about their accomplishments in the gym, and hear more about her family, read on. But 30 years ago, the equipment we worked on wasn't so forgiving. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests.