Mary Lou Retton cheers gymnast McKenna Kelley at NCAA finals - TODAY.com 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. At 26 years old, Shayla is Retton's eldest daughter. Next is Skyla Kelley, who's 21 years old and studying at Texas Tech University. Shes a hollerer, for sure..
Mary's father was also a former collegiate basketball player. "I tell her every season, 'McKenna, I'm really gonna do it this season. (She shared the title with Mackenzie Brannan.) 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. "Wow what a night! "No one had ever seen a gymnast like me. 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. 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. Ahead of her daughters last outing on the floor, Retton revealed that she told Kelley to make sure to enjoy the moment. (She shared the title with Mackenzie Brannan.) I wanted to tell people why., I knew I wanted to do it in a classy way, she continues. 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. I just wanted to be authentic. [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. } 66.9K followers. 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. She was also on the school's acrobatics and tumbling team for all four years. } Retton could be spotted in the stands blowing kisses and holding up 10 fingers for a perfect 10. Shayla didn't continue tumbling after college, however. [2] Her performance made her one of the most popular athletes in the United States. She went to The University of Texas, where she met her husband, Shannon Kelly, who played quarterback for the Longhorns. 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. , Awesome, Youre All Set! AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. 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. Associate Editor, Human Interest - PEOPLE. On Saturday, April 20, LSU finished second at the NCAA Womens Gymnastics Championships. "It's not like today, when you get the results before they appear on television. Mary Lou Retton's daughter nailed her routine at the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships She almost got a perfect score! Im excited scared, but excited.. RELATED:Nadia Comneci Scored a Perfect 10 at the Olympics 45 Years Ago. "Her voice is so distinct, and I can always hear it in the crowd," she told ESPN. HOUCHRON CAPTION (08/19/2004): Retton four daughters (from left) Shayla, 9, Skyla, 4, Emma, 2, and McKenna, 7, are her most prized possessions. [6] (The original family name was "Rotunda. Olympic Gymnast Mary Lou Retton Cheers on Daughter at NCAA Womens Gymnastics Championships. "I tell her every season, 'McKenna, I'm really gonna do it this season. 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 is opening up about her divorce from ex-husband Shannon Kelley. The couple got married in January 2020. Growing up, I never had that pressure, Kelley told espnW as a freshman competitor. 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. You had to watch ABC, because that was the only place to see us. All four of their children. After the show aired, Retton says a lot of people reached out and were surprised to hear that she and Kelley had separated. But who could blame her? See Her Now. "You go back to Nastia in 2008. Opening up about her decision to step away, Kelley shared that she feels so at peace.. 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. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [11] Together they have four daughters: Shayla (born 1995), McKenna (born 1997), a former NCAA gymnast at Louisiana State University, Skyla (born 2000), and Emma (born 2002). Shes worked really hard to come back from a serious injury, did two events and was ready to do beam tonight. Over the years, the Olympic champion and her enthusiastic cheers from the stands have been a constant presence at her daughter's competitions. By Uplifting Today / April 24, 2019. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Ice Skating Stars of the '90s and '00s: Where Are They Now? 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. Instead of pursuing gymnastics, Skyla was on the cheerleading team during her four years of high school. "With this back surgery, you get to the point when the pain overrides the fear of getting it done. Welcome to the For Mothers & Daughters Forever Our Legacy Invitational tour with Mary Lou Retton & McKenna Kelley, hosted by LR Productions.
Mary Lou Retton's Daughter Performs Near-Perfect Routine At NCAA Women 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. 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. 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. "McKenna was very . 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. McKenna Kelley anchors the 2019 NCAA Gymnastics Championships! National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association. We were arguing towards the end a lot, but I think that they were shocked that it actually happened.. See Her Now. Traveling more than 13,500 miles across the United States in 65 days carried by about 11,500 torchbearers, the torchis on its way to Salt Lake City for the XIX Olympic Winter Games, which begin February 8. Even with four kids who've done gymnastics, Retton has never been tempted to coach them herself. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! "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. 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. by Njera Perkins She scored a total of 79.175 to take the gold medal in individual all around competition. View this post on Instagram.
One gold, two silver and two bronze. And for more entertainment and celebrity news sent right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. April 23, 2019 by Haley Velasco With a famous mom like Olympic. Mary Lou Retton was the first American female to have an Olympic all-around gold. ", Gymnastics, she said, "is a brutal sport. Nadia Comneci Scored a Perfect 10 at the Olympics 45 Years Ago. But the equipment today is better, and they train smarter today.".
Olympian Mary Lou Retton, daughter bring invitational to Providence 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. Brianne Tracy is a staff writer on the PEOPLE music team. [19][20], Retton was elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. Wherever she ends up next year, shes sure to dazzle. 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. 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.
Mary Lou Retton's daughter: 'She's always been Mom to me' - Times Union The retired Olympic gold-medal-winning gymnast revealed her split from her husband of 27 years publicly for the. 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. They were angry in the beginning, and any child should be with their family being torn apart but weve vowed that we would do holidays together and were going to try to make it as seamless and as painless as possible., I dont think they were surprised, she adds. 1 day ago, by Victoria Edel 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. From vegan to keto, which diet has the highest carbon footprint. McKenna won her first gymnastics competition when she was 17. "Honestly, I don't really give advice or get involved unless asked," she explained. Theres that fine line between a daughter and a friend, so theres a lot that I couldnt share with them. View this post on Instagram #grateful A post. 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. 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. This is your last routine, she shared. McKenna and her mom co-host the women's gymnastics tour, "For Mothers and Daughters Forever Our Legacy." If you have any concerns about the accuracy of our content, please reach out to our editors by e-mailing See Her Now. See Her Now. The tour, which will start this November, is open to gymnasts from the beginner competitive level through the junior level. 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. Who can blame a mom, when there's so much to cheer about?
McKenna Kelley, daughter of Mary Lou Retton, blazes her own trail in 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. 1 day ago, by Yerin Kim Now, Retton is back home in Texas with her family and taking time to rest after dealing with some DWTS-related injuries. Retton sailed through the Olympic Trials but, in an event that would not have happened these days, was allowed to appear in a post-trials exhibition and suffered a knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery six weeks before the Games. Though Retton missed the World Gymnastics Championships in 1983 due to a wrist injury, she won the American Classic in 1983 and 1984, as well as Japan's Chunichi Cup in 1983. ( Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle ), Mary Lou Retton and her daughter McKenna Kelley, 11, celebrate with Chellsie Memmel after she was announced as member of the 2008 Olympic team on the final day of the USA Gymnastics Olympic selection camp at Women's National Team Training Center, Saturday, July 19, 2008, in New Waverly, Texas. [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. All images are used with permission or licensed. "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. We adhere to structured guidelines for sourcing information and linking to other resources, including
LSU freshman McKenna Kelley Mary Lou Retton's daughter contributing By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from POPSUGAR. That's where I am at this stage of life.". Happy Monday! she wrote in the caption alongside several happy face emojis. Get daily fitness inspiration right in your inbox. She'll be starting her junior year this fall and is in the Alpha Phi sorority. She retired from gymnastics after graduating college, but McKenna is still involved with the sport in her own way. Experts give insight into the biggest social media lies. Did having her mom there make Kelley nervous? 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. "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 I just can't help myself!". Follow. See Her Now. That was a big part of my struggle the last few years do I do it? "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.". 08/11/2004 (E. Joe Deering/Chronicle). 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. The couple got married in January 2020. She was also on the school's acrobatics and tumbling team for all four years. Although she didn't compete in any meets during her first year, her career is just beginning. Im on a really good path, and Im happy with my life, Retton, 50, tells PEOPLE exclusively. Mary Lou Retton wrote "Gateways to Happiness" to share her philosophy about success and life. And I just can't help myself!" sound information and advice to make the smartest, healthiest choices. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world.
Mary Lou Retton, right, and her daughters Shayla Kelley, back left, and McKenna, back right, rush in to hug Samantha Peszek, right, and Alicia Sacramone after Peszek and Sacramone were named to the Olympic team on the final day of the USA Gymnastics Olympic selection camp at Women's National Team Training Center, Saturday, July 19, 2008, in New Waverly, Texas. [12], Retton divorced her husband in February 2018.[13]. "I will pick and choose some appearances, but I need to take care of these kids and support them and love them. I popped a rib last week, so thats pretty painful. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); As to whether she has gotten a chance to step back into the dating pool, Retton says, Not yet!, Im scared a little bit, she says. 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. 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. 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. My last thought to you was, Remember this. My words were, remember this, baby girl. Kate Gosselin Joined Rigorous New Boot Camp Reality Series Because She 'Wanted Cool Mom Points', Cheryl Burke Hangs with 'Dance Dad' Tom Bergeron After Announcing Her 'Dancing with the Stars' Exit, All the Celebrity Couples Who've Called It Quits in 2020, Cheryl Burke Looks Back on 'Blood, Sweat and Tears' in Sweet Note to Former' DWTS' Partners, Suni Lee Plans to Leave College Gymnastics After This Year: 'I Have My Sights Set' on 2024 Olympics, Cheryl Burke Is Saying Goodbye to 'DWTS' After 26 Seasons: 'I Have Been Crying Nonstop', Cheryl Burke Is Focusing on Mental Health Following Her 26-Season Run on 'DWTS', Shaun White Is Enjoying Life After Snowboarding: 'That Lingering Pressure Is Gone', Shawn Johnson Calls Being Beaten by Friend Nastia Liukin at Olympics the 'Hardest Emotional Feeling', Cheryl Burke Confirms Season 31 of 'DWTS' Is 'Likely' Her Last as a Pro: 'It's Hard to Say Goodbye', 'You Have to Share These Things': 15 Times Athletes Opened Up About Mental Health, Olympian Laurie Hernandez Wishes She 'Had More Time' with Grandmother with Alzheimer's, Teresa Giudice Says 'My Dream Came True' During 'DWTS' Run Even Though She Knew She Wouldn't Win, Sunisa Lee 'Didn't Even Think' She Could Win Gold in Gymnastics All-Around: 'It Was So Emotional', Cheryl Burke Sends Message to Teresa Giudice After 'DWTS' Elimination: 'Beginning of Our Friendship', Simone Biles Gave Jade Carey Advice Before She Rebounded and Won Gold: 'Let's Go Out and Kill Floor'. In her senior year, she scored a 9.8875 in the vault competition at the NCAA Team Finals. This is a carousel. I just felt this is my chance to really be clear and to be transparent to people. And while she may not share the same athletic interests as her family, they're still close. [16] She retired in 1986. 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. (Retton lives in Houston, and the show is filmed in Los Angeles. Now live in Houston with her husband and their four kids. 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! Is climate change causing more flight turbulence? [4][5], Mary Lou Retton was born on January 24, 1968, in Fairmont, West Virginia. She also participated in several cheer competitions, per Yahoo! The image was posted to commemorate the latter's milestone leaving high-school.
Mary-Lou Retton - Stunning Individual All-Round Gold - YouTube