Mary Lou Retton's Daughter on Olympian's 'Groundbreaking - Yahoo! -- When your mom is Olympic gymnastics superstar Mary Lou Retton and you take up her sport, there are bound to be certain expectations. ", Gymnastics, she said, "is a brutal sport. 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. May 24, 2016, 8:55 AM. pic.twitter.com/tedB7SG2jv. 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. McKenna Kelley, daughter of Mary Lou Retton, blazes her own trail in Shes a hollerer, for sure.. I really commend her, LSU coach D-D Breaux told The Times-Picayune of Kelley. They'll make their remarks with a straight face, even if they're joking. 744 posts. Mary Lou Retton-Kelley lights up the cauldron during the 2002 Olympic Torch Relay Monday, Dec. 10, 2001, in Houston, TX. Her path was different than mine and Im so proud of everything.. But after all is said and done, she is just a kid from a small West Virginia town who has become one of the most familiar faces and most beloved citizens in the fourth-largest city in America. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); 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. Dancing with the Stars airs Mondays (8 p.m. : 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. Skyla bears a striking resemblance to Retton, and that comes through as the young beauty stood near the renowned sports star. [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. Of course, Retton was on hand to cheer her daughter on at the NCAA championships. 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. Is climate change causing more flight turbulence? "She's a hollerer, for sure.". "McKenna was very . Kelley is a senior at LSU, which means this may have been her last performance with the team. 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). I have a bad knee, and Im pretty sure I re-tore my rotator cuff, which Ive had three operations on, so thats not fun. 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. #allthefeels #lsugym @mckennamckelley @LSUgym pic.twitter.com/DbmbuWFazK, Alison Stevens (@AlisonMichele93) April 21, 2019. She attended Fairmont Senior High School, but did not graduate. Next is Skyla Kelley, who's 21 years old and studying at Texas Tech University. I will not be taking a fifth year, she shared on Today, to which her mother enthusiastically replied, Thank God.. So far, Rettons May 25 post has amassed well over 8,000 likes and numerous comments. ( Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle ). Retton was thrust back into the spotlight when the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal hit the news in 2016. Even with four kids who've done gymnastics, Retton has never been tempted to coach them herself. In her senior year, she scored a 9.8875 in the vault competition at the NCAA Team Finals. See Her Now. [emailprotected]. Retton looked so young herself that she could easily pass for Skylas sister. "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. No more high school for this young lady! 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. Advertisement "I'm on a really good path, and I'm happy with my life," Retton told People in 2018. Theres that fine line between a daughter and a friend, so theres a lot that I couldnt share with them. 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. It was an especially astonishing return to the top for Kelley, who sat out her junior year because of a torn Achilles tendon. And I just can't help myself!" Though Retton would have liked to stay longer in the competition, shes excited to go back to set in two weeks for the finale and plans on keeping in touch with her pro-dancing partner Sasha Farber. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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. Mary Lou Retton and McKenna Kelley | Mary Lou. As Kelley took her final bow after her stellar performance, the crowd went wild. "I tell her every season, 'McKenna, I'm really gonna do it this season. Our LSU parents den!!! Great, Click the Allow Button Above 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. Fast-forward today, and that's all you see because that is how the sport has evolved to benefit powerful, athletic gymnasts. Simone Biles has won more world championships, Nastia Liukin has as many Olympic medals and Shannon Miller has more world and Olympic medals combined. "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.". 9 of 24 10 of 24 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 . Ever. A women's gymnastics competition tour open to USA Gymnastics, NGA, & AAU levels 1-10 and Xcel divisions. The proud mom took to Instagram to commemorate her daughters triumphant performance. Perfect 10 Genes: See Mary Lou Retton's Daughter Ace Her NCAA - apost LSU freshman McKenna Kelley Mary Lou Retton's daughter contributing '", Despite her daughters' success in their athletic pursuits, Retton has said that the main thing she's focused on is their happiness. McKenna Kelley, Marylou Retton's daughter, performing her floor routine She did rack up some impressive scores on the mat in high school, however. WHERE ARE THEY NOW: America's Youngest Olympic Stars - Yahoo! Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Retton doesn't like to interfere with her kids' gymnastics careers. 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. Now she's going for platinum. Though Retton admits shes a pretty private person, she decided to share the news about her divorce in such a public manner so that she could be transparent about everything she had been going through. [24], In January 2020, Retton was the first woman inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame. [4][5], Mary Lou Retton was born on January 24, 1968, in Fairmont, West Virginia. It was picture perfect, her daughter agreed. Associate Editor, Human Interest - PEOPLE. How Many Kids Do Ben and Erin Napier Have? The last routine of the night was Kelleys, for which she earned a 9.95, which is only .05 from a perfect 10 score. Im excited scared, but excited.. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. But Kelley seems to be handling these expectations without breaking a sweat, as evidenced by her recent performance in the NCAA championships. At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, she won a gold medal in the individual all-around competition, as well as two silver medals and two bronze medals. Mary Lou Retton Divorces Husband Shannon Kelley After 27 Years of Growing up, I never had that pressure, Kelley told espnW as a freshman competitor. 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. She did not arrive at this point in her life unscathed. Retton was born with hip dysplasia, a condition that her years as a competitive gymnast aggravated. A post shared by Emma Kelley (@emmajeankelley). But that kind of gymnastics has gone. 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Naturally, the reminders and . McKenna Kelley, left, and her mom, Mary Lou Retton, at the 1984 Summer Olympics. "Wow what a night! Mary Lou Retton - Wikipedia Mary Lou Retton | Bio, Age, Career, Husband, Kids, Retirement, Salary I popped a rib last week, so thats pretty painful. McKenna Kelley - LSU 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.. 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. Those #goals aren't what they seem. She did rack up some impressive scores on the mat in high school, however. She now has her own YouTube channel, which she started in 2015. Generations of gymnasts later, her body type and style are the sport's gold standard, embodied by the 4-feet-8 Biles, already the three-time defending world all-around champion heading into the Rio Olympics. Im on a really good path, and Im happy with my life, Retton, 50, tells PEOPLE exclusively. 66.9k Followers, 1,325 Following, 744 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Mary Lou Retton (@marylouretton) marylouretton. Are insane ticket costs pricing Astros fans out of Opening Day? 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. MLB legend makes surprise appearance at Astros' Spring Training, Hiker takes 'once-in-a-lifetime' photo at Brazos Bend State Park, This Texas Hill Country town is the new, cooler Fredericksburg, This is what Houston looks like from space, Eric Gordon trade looking better and better for Houston Rockets, Oops! 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. 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. 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. Wonderful final performance for her career at @LSUgym pic.twitter.com/DR9R83G9P8. Former gymnast and Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton was at the Rhode Island Convention Center hosting a gymnastics meet. "Her voice is so distinct, and I can always hear it in the crowd," she told ESPN. 2022 Galvanized Media. 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. 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. The perfect tummy control bodysuit, a popcorn gadget, more bestsellers starting at $8. Olympian Mary Lou Retton, daughter bring invitational to Providence Mary Lou Retton a member of the 1984 Olympic gymnastics team won five medals in LA. That made it special for people. 08/24/1998 - (L-R) Mary Lou Retton, 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. 1 day ago, by Yerin Kim I just wanted to be authentic. My close-knit people obviously knew, but not a lot of people knew, she says. Though Retton felt lonely throughout the process, she says she had the support of the couples four daughters Shayla, 23, McKenna, 21, Skyla, 18, and Emma, 16. And we trained hard - 70 vaults a day onto hard surfaces. She was married to former University of Texas quarterback and Houston real estate developer Shannon Kelley, who now works for the Houston Baptist University athletic department. I dont think the ex told anybody, but thats just coming from me that could be wrong. Mary Lou Retton a member of the 1984 Olympic gymnastics team won five metals in LA. Kelley is the daughter of gymnastics legend Mary Lou Retton, who at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics became the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal. 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. In 1985, Retton won the American Cup all-around competition for the third and final time. Reels. A women's gymnastics competition tour open to USA Gymnastics, NGA, & AAU levels 1-10 and Xcel divisions. 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. We adhere to structured guidelines for sourcing information and linking to other resources, including 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. '", Despite her daughters' success in their athletic pursuits, Retton has said that the main thing she's focused on is their happiness. She is a frequent analyst for televised gymnastics and attended The University of Texas at Austin after the Olympics.[31]. (Not in Picture). If it weren't already a known fact, it would be hard to tell Retton is a mother of four! 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. 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. 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. #sbs2019 #proudmamma #threedownonetogo.. See Michael Jordan's Three Oldest Kids All Grown Up. Registered gymnasts will receive a custom GK leotard. See Her Now. Legendary Olympians Who've Been Honored on Wheaties Boxes. See Mary Lou Retton's 4 Daughters, Who All Followed in Her Footsteps. The tour benefits The McKenna Kelly Foundation, which donates to non-profits focusing on mental health. 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. 2 hours ago, by Sarah Wasilak She and her wife, Molly, are the proud moms of two formerly stray cats, Sophie and Pierre, and a rescue dog named Gracie. 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. National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association. If anything, when we were growing up shed be like, You should quit. Its a 9.95 to end her illustrious career, the caption read. She brought the look to a finish wearing tall black heels and with her dark brown hair styled into a straight-edged cut. [9], Retton lived in Houston, Texas,[10] until 2009, when her family returned to West Virginia. Route 79 permanently closes in Fall River Video / Feb 27, 2023 / 07:27 . "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. Mary Lou Retton's Daughter Says Growing Up the Gymnast Was - Peoplemag She also scored a perfect 10 on a floor exercise at a meet against Oregon State University. 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. "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. Unlike her older sisters, Skyla isn't involved in collegiate gymnastics. Gosh it brings it all back!!! ", Houston, she said, "has become home to me. [3], Her gold medal win was historic as Retton was the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal in Olympic gymnastics. One gold, two silver and two bronze. The LSU Gymnastics team also commemorated the special moment online, tweeting an image of Kelley during her routine. Thats all she is, her daughter replied. [19][20], Retton was elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. [12], Retton divorced her husband in February 2018.[13]. I havent officially announced this, but I have decided to graduate with my senior class. 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. That's where I am at this stage of life.". Speaking to Parade in 2016, the gold medalist noted that she doesn't give them pointers about the sport unless they ask for it. Their daughters' names are Shayla, McKenna, Skyla, & Emma Kelley. 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. 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. Retton recovered and, trailing Szabo entering her final event in the all-around at Los Angeles, received a perfect score of 10.0 on the "vault without fault" to win the gold medal by 0.05 points. "Honestly, I don't really give advice or get involved unless asked," she explained. In addition to McKenna, Retton has three other daughters with ex Shannon Kelley: Shayla Rae, 24, Skyla Brae, 19, and Emma Jean, 16. Get daily fitness inspiration right in your inbox. Last Christmas, she shared a photo of her and her sisters in matching pajamas on Instagram. Shayla was on her college's acrobatics and tumbling team. RELATED: Kerri Strug's Heroic Vault Was 25 Years Ago.