Gosh it brings it all back!!! Throughout the process, Retton felt alone, but she had the support of the couple's four daughters: Shayla, 23, McKenna, 21, Skyla, 18, and Emma, 16. Details: Welcome to the For Mothers & Daughters Forever Our Legacy Invitational tour with Mary Lou Retton & McKenna Kelley, hosted by LR Productions. [18], In 1985, she received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member General Chuck Yeager. Watch Kelley's finals floor routine above (wait until the end to see Retton cheering along). She's got the gold. 403 N 3rd St, Richmond , VA 23219. But the equipment today is better, and they train smarter today.". . 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. She did not arrive at this point in her life unscathed. [3] Three stuck with it, one was a cheerleader. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Theres that fine line between a daughter and a friend, so theres a lot that I couldnt share with them. 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. (Not in Picture). RELATED: See Michael Jordan's Three Oldest Kids All Grown Up. Kelley only began pursuing elite gymnastics five years ago at the age of 17, Today previously reported. RELATED: Gymnast Carly Patterson Won Olympic Gold 17 Years Ago. The legendary woman was giving perfect-10 fingers for her daughter and sending kisses through the air to Kelley on the floor. Just 16 at the time, Retton who underwent knee surgery just five weeks before the Olympics went on to score perfect 10s on both the floor exercises and the vault. xhr.send(payload); Having retired from gymnastics after winning an unprecedented third American Cup title in 1985, as noted above, she later had cameo appearances as herself in Scrooged and Naked Gun '"`UNIQ--templatestyles-00000016-QINU`"'33+13: The Final Insult. In her senior year, she scored a 9.8875 in the vault competition at the NCAA Team Finals. Naturally, the reminders and . Who can blame a mom, when there's so much to cheer about? AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. [9], Retton lived in Houston, Texas,[10] until 2009, when her family returned to West Virginia. 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. She did rack up some impressive scores on the mat in high school, however. The last hashtag hints at the fact that Retton now only has one more high school graduation to attend, given that Skyla is her third daughter. After experiencing increased pain from the condition, she underwent hip replacement surgery on her left hip in her mid-thirties. However, Skyla did do gymnastics as a child, starting at the age of three. McKenna, who's now 24, was co-championof the Nastia Liukin Cup, an annual U.S. competition hosted by the former Olympian, in 2014. [2] Her performance made her one of the most popular athletes in the United States. For Kelley, a senior at LSU, the night was a triumphant personal comeback. The couple got married in January 2020. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); It really helped me find that woman that I was searching for. Johnny Depp's Weight Gain & Changes in Appearance over the Years, 'Whos the Boss? 1995), McKenna (b. Back in Baton Rouge, LA, there's already a billboard congratulating the runners-up. 07/25/2001 - Mary Lou Retton relaxes while talking to actress Alicia Church (who plays 'Jumpy') on the set The Flip Flop Shop at KUHT studios on 7-25-01. A women's gymnastics competition tour open to USA Gymnastics, NGA, & AAU levels 1-10 and Xcel divisions. RELATED VIDEO: UCLA Gymnastics Star Katelyn Ohashi Breaks the Internet with Perfect Floor Routine. The moment was also captured in photos and shared online, as seen in the tweet below from @JacquesDoucet: 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. "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. [6] (The original family name was "Rotunda. Retton looked so young herself that she could easily pass for Skylas sister. 08/11/2004 (E. Joe Deering/Chronicle). She has been with the brand since starting as an intern nearly six years ago, covering all things entertainment across print and digital platforms. See Her Now. I dont think the ex told anybody, but thats just coming from me that could be wrong. 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. What supplements should we really be taking? "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.". One gold, two silver and two bronze. Opening up about her decision to step away, Kelley shared that she feels so at peace.. 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,. Just days after scoring a near-perfect 10 on her floor routine at the NCAA Womens Gymnastics Championship, Kelley, 22, and her mother appeared on the Today show to open up about their relationship. Wonderful final performance for her career at @LSUgym pic.twitter.com/DR9R83G9P8. So far, Rettons May 25 post has amassed well over 8,000 likes and numerous comments. As Kelley took her final bow after her stellar performance, the crowd went wild. [19][20], Retton was elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. RELATED:See Michael Jordan's Three Oldest Kids All Grown Up. This wasn't her only win at the games; she also won silver in the team and vault competitions, along with bronze medals in uneven bar and floor exercise. See Michael Jordan's Three Oldest Kids All Grown Up. Mary Lou Retton (born January 24, 1968) is an American retired gymnast. May Lou Wheaties box on display in her home. Registered gymnasts will receive a custom GK leotard. She also posts frequently about her mom and dad. 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. [12], Retton divorced her husband in February 2018.[13]. For some fans in attendance, watching Kelley's mom cheer on her performance brought back heartwarming memories of those Olympic games. 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. RELATED:Gymnast Carly Patterson Won Olympic Gold 17 Years Ago. While McKenna grew up with a world-famous Olympian, she says that her mom never pressured her into becoming a gymnast. 1 day ago, by Victoria Edel I really commend her, LSU coach D-D Breaux told The Times-Picayune of Kelley. Ill probably have some more operations in the future, but its alright.. She also says she checked comments on her social media pages something she doesnt normally do to see if her story inspired anybody going through the same thing. She retired from gymnastics after graduating college, but McKenna is still involved with the sport in her own way. 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. And we trained hard - 70 vaults a day onto hard surfaces. Instead, she stayed in Houston, graduating from high school and attending the University of Texas, where she met her husband, Shannon Kelley, a former Memorial High School quarterback who also played for the Longhorns and is an assistant coach at Houston Baptist University. I popped a rib last week, so thats pretty painful. If it weren't already a known fact, it would be hard to tell Retton is a mother of four! "I think people expect this elaborate answer of she made me run at 6 a.m in the morning, but she's just mom to me. 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. See Michael Jordan's Three Oldest Kids All Grown Up. 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. I wanted to tell people why., I knew I wanted to do it in a classy way, she continues. Mary Lou Retton is opening up about her divorce from ex-husband Shannon Kelley. I havent officially announced this, but I have decided to graduate with my senior class. "I travel from January to May watching them compete, and that is the joy of my life. 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). 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 ); This wasn't her only win at the games; she also won silver in the team and vault competitions, along with bronze medals in uneven bar and floor exercise. foreverourlegacy.org. "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. 66.9K followers. She was also on the school's acrobatics and tumbling team for all four years. [emailprotected]. In her senior year, she scored a 9.8875 in the vault competition at the NCAA Team Finals. '", Despite her daughters' success in their athletic pursuits, Retton has said that the main thing she's focused on is their happiness. April 23, 2019 by Haley Velasco With a famous mom like Olympic. 2002). If you have any concerns about the accuracy of our content, please reach out to our editors by e-mailing Over the years, the Olympic champion and her enthusiastic cheers from the stands have been a constant presence at her daughter's competitions. Nadia Comneci Scored a Perfect 10 at the Olympics 45 Years Ago. 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. 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 credited as the first American female gymnast to win gold in the all-around competition at the Olympics. Ever. Videos Tagged. When the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017[32] was introduced to the 115th Congress, she and other members of USA Gymnastics met with the bill sponsor, Senator Dianne Feinstein, with the aim of convincing her to drop the bill. All four of their children have been involved with gymnastics, like their mom, who, at 53, is working in sports once again, managing a new competitive tour. One gold, two silver and two bronze. ET) on ABC. and I LOVE it!!. Gymnast Carly Patterson Won Olympic Gold 17 Years Ago. 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 . Verified. [24], In January 2020, Retton was the first woman inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame. (She shared the title with Mackenzie Brannan.) It was picture perfect, her daughter agreed. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. She retired from gymnastics after graduating college, but McKenna is still involved with the sport in her own way. For her performance, she was named Sports Illustrated Magazine's "Sportswoman of the Year." "Her voice is so distinct, and I can always hear it in the crowd," Kelley said. As for Kelley, she seemed tickled by her mom's pride. She scored a total of 79.175 to take the gold medal in individual all around competition. The teenage beauty was pictured wearing the traditional graduation attire a navy blue graduation gown with oversized sleeves and cap. 2 hours ago, by Sarah Wasilak See Her Now. [17], Retton's hometown, Fairmont, West Virginia, named a road and a park in the town after her. 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. Are insane ticket costs pricing Astros fans out of Opening Day? Although she didn't compete in any meets during her first year, her career is just beginning. Those #goals aren't what they seem. Its woven into every fabric of my being. She was in tears as she watched her daughter and her team receive their trophy. It was a special weekend for the RI Sports Commission, GoProvidence, and Convention Center! Mary Lou Retton a member of the 1984 Olympic gymnastics team won five medals in LA. HOUCHRON CAPTION (12/11/2001): Mary Lou Retton-Kelley puts the final touch on the torch's trek through Houston, lighting up the cauldron at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The asymmetrical neckline of the top had the star flaunting her beautiful neckline and the short length of the skirt, her well-toned legs. They'll make their remarks with a straight face, even if they're joking. Show More Posts from marylouretton. ", Houston, she said, "has become home to me. 1,325 following. Mary Lou Retton-Kelley lights up the cauldron during the 2002 Olympic Torch Relay Monday, Dec. 10, 2001, in Houston, TX. 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. After the show aired, Retton says a lot of people reached out and were surprised to hear that she and Kelley had separated. 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. 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. 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. "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. Our LSU parents den!!! , It Runs in the Family: Mary Lou Retton's Daughter Nailed Her Floor Routine at the NCAA Finals, This 30-Minute Bollywood Dance Fusion Class Is a Heart-Pumping Workout, This 10-Minute Empowering Dance Workout Is All About Feeling Fierce, This Is the Right Way to Do a Burpee Plus Modifications That Don't Hurt, Rita Ora's "Body Slam" Workout May Look Silly, but Boy, Is It Effective, Nicole Scherzinger's Dumbbell Strength Workout Is the Fastest Way to Work Your Whole Body, Tracee Ellis Ross Can't Get Enough of This One Tracy Anderson Method Workout, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. I dont think another year of gymnastics could give me anything I needed more, she said, adding that her team at LSU has been so special and she wants to finish her college journey with them. 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. 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. Although Kelley is a senior at LSU, she missed the entirety of her junior season due to injury. I'm so grateful to be following you on social media: you were my first ever hero @marylouretton, and I wanted to be just like you.. Its a 9.95 to end her illustrious career, the caption read. ", Gymnastics, she said, "is a brutal sport. The tour, which will start this November, is open to gymnasts from the beginner competitive level through the junior level. She posts videos about her daily life, which often feature her siblings and husband, Wyatt Schrepfer, who also studied at Baylor University. 08/11/2004 (E. Joe Deering/Chronicle). McKenna Kelley, daughter of Mary Lou Retton, blazes her own trail in gymnastics 2492 days ago Laurie Bern Special to espnW.com When your mom is Olympic gymnastics superstar Mary Lou Retton and you take up her sport, there are bound to be certain expectations. Registered gymnasts will receive a custom GK leotard. [16] She retired in 1986. Kerri Strug's Heroic Vault Was 25 Years Ago. 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. My daughters were amazing, she says. All Rights Reserved. Brianne Tracy is a staff writer on the PEOPLE music team. It was a doozy, but I'm recovering. "You go back to Nastia in 2008. 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! Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. [15] Retton won the all-around gold medal by 0.05 points, beating Szabo to become first female gymnast from outside Eastern Europe to win the individual all-around gold. Gina Vivinetto is a writer for TODAY.com. 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. She was coached by Gary Rafaloski. Were a gymnastics family, she shared. She shared on the show that she had gotten divorced from husband Shannon Kelley, whom she married in 1990. Skater Gracie Gold 'Overwhelmed' After Emotional Routine Returning from Depression Struggles, All the Olympians Who've Competed on 'Dancing with the Stars', Simone Biles and 'Today' Surprise Sunisa Lee's Father with New Wheelchair: 'This is Amazing', Mary Lou Retton talks about staying healthy for her kids, UCLA Gymnast Who Scored Perfect 10 Officially Finishes Her College Career with Upbeat Routine, Jade Carey Wins Gold! Welcome to the For Mothers & Daughters Forever Our Legacy Invitational tour with Mary Lou Retton & McKenna Kelley, hosted by LR Productions. 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. https://twitter.com/mckennamckelley/status/1120331854186536962. -- When your mom is Olympic gymnastics superstar Mary Lou Retton and you take up her sport, there are bound to be certain expectations. But my mom never, ever put pressure on us. [28][29][30] In 2019, Retton became a spokesperson for Australian Dream, a pain relief cream. Team USA Gymnast Earns First Olympic Medal in Floor Final at Tokyo Olympics, Mary Lou Retton Divorces Husband Shannon Kelley After 27 Years of Marriage: 'I Felt Very Alone', Simone Biles Suddenly Exits Women's Team Event but Says She's 'OK' and May Be Back for Other Finals, Aly Raisman, Laurie Hernandez and More Gymnasts React to Simone Biles Bowing Out of Team Final, This UCLA Gymnast Earned a Perfect 10 for Her Epic Floor Routine Watch Her Flip Around the Mat, Sunisa Lee 'Didn't Even Think' She Could Win Gold in Gymnastics All-Around: 'It Was So Emotional', first American woman to win all-around gold at the Olympics, only began pursuing elite gymnastics five years ago, cheer her daughter on at the NCAA championships. Mary Lou Retton Mary Lou Retton's official Instagram. Her path was different than mine and Im so proud of everything.. Agreeing with her daughters remarks, Retton, 51, said that although she enrolled all of her four daughters in gymnastics classes, she didnt put pressure on them., I put my four daughters into a sport that I love. Wonderful final performance for her career at @LSUgym pic.twitter.com/DR9R83G9P8, Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) April 21, 2019. [] Please select the topics you're interested in: Would you like to turn on POPSUGAR desktop notifications to get breaking news ASAP? 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. It was an especially astonishing return to the top for Kelley, who sat out her junior year because of a torn Achilles tendon. McKenna then took her gymnastics career to the collegiate level at Louisiana State University. 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. See Her Now. Legendary Olympians Who've Been Honored on Wheaties Boxes. 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. 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. This year, Kelley is a senior. Im on a really good path, and Im happy with my life, Retton, 50, tells PEOPLE exclusively. ': 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. Mary's father was also a former collegiate basketball player. It's a small town in a big city and such a sports town where everybody supports each other.". Shayla didn't continue tumbling after college, however. 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. See Her Now. She went to The University of Texas, where she met her husband, Shannon Kelly, who played quarterback for the Longhorns. And yet, more than 30 years later, the Sports Illustrated headline of Aug. 13, 1984, rings true: Mary Lou Retton laughs appreciatively at the notion that, at age 48 and the mother of four daughters, she has been regarded as the greatest of all American female gymnasts, even surpassing those who jump higher, run faster and perform skills in the 21st century she never dreamed of accomplishing in the 20th - at least until Biles' performance in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. 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. Now, she says, shes ready for a new chapter. Simone Biles has won more world championships, Nastia Liukin has as many Olympic medals and Shannon Miller has more world and Olympic medals combined. They'll always second guess themselves, from what they say to how they look. The image was posted to commemorate the latters milestone leaving high-school. Kerri Strug's Heroic Vault Was 25 Years Ago. There were women saying theyve been in the same predicament as myself [with a] long marriage and thanking me for giving them the hope and courage to continue, she says. Retton said she and Kelley simply grew apart. Retired American gymnast, Mary Lou Retton, took to social media to celebrate her look-alike daughter, Skyla's graduation from high school. (She shared the title with Mackenzie Brannan.) I showed the world what the sport was going to be - power and athleticism as opposed to just the graceful, artistic side of things.". She also shared additional images of her performance on Twitter, writing, Tiger Nation, thank you!, https://twitter.com/mckennamckelley/status/1119975478130020354. 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. Next is Skyla Kelley, who's 21 years old and studying at Texas Tech University. She had gone away and I knew she was in there that strong, powerful, confident woman and I found her.. 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.