Mary Lou Retton is a celebrated American retired gymnast, most notably recognized for her outstanding performance at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. She achieved a historic victory by winning the gold medal in the individual all-around competition, becoming the first American woman to do so. In addition to her gold medal, Retton also secured two silver medals and two bronze medals during the same Olympics, solidifying her place as a prominent figure in American sports history and inspiring future generations of gymnasts.
On January 24, 1968, Mary Lou Retton, the future Olympic gold medalist gymnast, was born.
In 1976, at the age of eight, Mary Lou Retton was inspired to take up gymnastics after watching Nadia Comăneci at the Montreal Summer Olympics.
In 1983, Mary Lou Retton won the American Cup and placed second at the US Nationals. She also won the American Classic and Japan's Chunichi Cup in 1983. She missed the World Gymnastics Championships due to a wrist injury.
In 1984, Mary Lou Retton won a gold medal in the individual all-around competition at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. She also won two silver and two bronze medals at the same Olympics.
In 1984, Mary Lou Retton won the American Classic.
In 1984, Mary Lou Retton won the all-around gold medal at the Los Angeles Summer Olympics, becoming the first American woman and first non-Eastern European to achieve this honor. She had recovered from a knee injury just weeks before the games.
In 1984, during her sophomore year of high school, Mary Lou Retton competed in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California.
In 1985, Mary Lou Retton received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.
In 1985, Mary Lou Retton won the American Cup all-around competition for the third and final time.
In 1986, Mary Lou Retton retired from gymnastics.
In 1990, Mary Lou Retton married Shannon Kelley.
In 1992, Mary Lou Retton was elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.
In 1993, the Associated Press released results of a sports study in which Mary Lou Retton was statistically tied for first place with Dorothy Hamill as the most popular athlete in America.
In 1995, Mary Lou Retton's daughter Shayla was born.
In 1996, Kerri Strug won an Olympic gold medal.
In 1997, Mary Lou Retton was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.
In 1997, Mary Lou Retton's daughter McKenna was born.
In 2000, Mary Lou Retton's daughter Skyla was born.
In 2002, Mary Lou Retton's daughter Emma was born.
In 2004, Carly Patterson won the Olympic gold medal in Athens, continuing the American streak after Mary Lou Retton.
In 2004, Mary Lou Retton and Kerri Strug delivered the Pledge of Allegiance at the Republican National Convention.
In 2008, Nastia Liukin won the Olympic gold medal in Beijing, continuing the American streak after Mary Lou Retton.
In 2012, Gabby Douglas won the Olympic gold medal in London, continuing the American streak after Mary Lou Retton.
In 2016, Simone Biles won the Olympic gold medal in Rio de Janeiro, continuing the American streak after Mary Lou Retton.
In 2016, the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal hit the news.
In 2017, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 was introduced to the 115th Congress.
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.
In February 2018, Mary Lou Retton and Shannon Kelley were divorced.
In 2019, Mary Lou Retton became a spokesperson for Australian Dream, a pain relief cream.
In January 2020, Mary Lou Retton was the first woman inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame.
In 2021, Suni Lee won the Olympic gold medal in Tokyo, continuing the American streak after Mary Lou Retton.
On October 10, 2023, Mary Lou Retton's daughter McKenna announced that her mother was critically ill with pneumonia and lacked health insurance, leading to crowdfunding for medical expenses.
On October 30, 2023, Mary Lou Retton issued a statement saying she was continuing to recover slowly with her family and remaining positive.
Briefly in 2023, Mary Lou Retton became a spokesperson for Colonial Penn Life Insurance.
As of January 22, 2024, the total sum collected for Mary Lou Retton's medical expenses was $459,234.
In 2024, Simone Biles is anticipated to compete in Paris, continuing the American streak after Mary Lou Retton.