PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton and her daughter, McKenna Kelley, brought their gymnastics invitational to Rhode Island on Friday. 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 . Now, her daughter McKenna Kelley is following in her footsteps, as she just performed a near-perfect routine at the NCAA championships on Sunday as her proud . ! she described, adding, We are the loudest and most obnoxious parents [sic] section in the USA!! She appeared on a Wheaties box, and became the cereal's first official spokeswoman. Kerri Strug's Heroic Vault Was 25 Years Ago. That made it special for people. (Retton lives in Houston, and the show is filmed in Los Angeles. ")[7] Her father, Ronnie, operated a coal-industry transportation equipment business. Shayla didn't continue tumbling after college, however. 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. Great, Click the Allow Button Above Wherever she ends up next year, shes sure to dazzle. https://twitter.com/mckennamckelley/status/1120331854186536962. 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. 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. 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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. 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. I just wanted to be authentic. Retired American gymnast, Mary Lou Retton, took to social media to celebrate her look-alike daughter, Skyla's graduation from high school. See Her Now. 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. 1,325 following. ), I got away and just started over, she says. 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. 20 hours ago, by Lindsay Kimble (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. 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. Last Christmas, she shared a photo of her and her sisters in matching pajamas on Instagram. On Saturday, April 20, LSU finished second at the NCAA Womens Gymnastics Championships. You know, all the things that come with a divorce of that magnitude with such a large family. 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! Emma's graduation is one that Rettons fans will look forward to, but for now, they have Skylas to ooh and aah over. 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. Skyla bears a striking resemblance to Retton, and that comes through as the young beauty stood near the renowned sports star. The LSU Gymnastics team also commemorated the special moment online, tweeting an image of Kelley during her routine. 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. Legendary Olympians Who've Been Honored on Wheaties Boxes. Mary Lou Retton (born January 24, 1968) is an American retired gymnast. 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 ); Gymnast Mary Lou Retton made history at the 1984 Summer Olympics when she became the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal. Unlike her older sisters, Skyla isn't involved in collegiate gymnastics. "You go back to Nastia in 2008. May 24, 2016, 8:55 AM. RELATED: Nadia Comneci Scored a Perfect 10 at the Olympics 45 Years Ago. [25], During the 1990s, Retton worked as a spokeswoman, appearing in advertisements for the U.S. drugstore chain Revco. Subscribe to @olympics: http://oly.ch/Subscribe America celebrates following this stunning performance in the Women's Individual All-Round Gymnastics com. 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. The asymmetrical neckline of the top had the star flaunting her beautiful neckline and the short length of the skirt, her well-toned legs. But the team's celebration, as confetti showered down, was just as jubilant as if they'd won it all. It was a doozy, but I'm recovering. 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. I will not be taking a fifth year, she shared on Today, to which her mother enthusiastically replied, Thank God.. I popped a rib last week, so thats pretty painful. Retton's routine on the uneven bars included a move that came to be called "The Retton Flip." But the equipment today is better, and they train smarter today.". 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. In the photo, the mother-daughter duo were all smiles with Skyla standing tall beside her world-famous mother. The tour, which will start this November, is open to gymnasts from the beginner competitive level through the junior level. And the whole place, it was just such a moment.. If anything, when we were growing up shed be like, You should quit. xhr.send(payload); 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. National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association. "All my problems came after I had my babies. 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 wasnt there to bash my ex. "Wow what a night! That's where I am at this stage of life.". For her performance, she was named Sports Illustrated Magazine's "Sportswoman of the Year." Ahead of her daughters last outing on the floor, Retton revealed that she told Kelley to make sure to enjoy the moment. "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. 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. I really commend her, LSU coach D-D Breaux told The Times-Picayune of Kelley. A native of Tyler, he is a graduate of John Tyler High School, Tyler Junior College and The University of Texas at Austin. 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. That was a big part of my struggle the last few years do I do it? Nadia Comneci Scored a Perfect 10 at the Olympics 45 Years Ago. 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. [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. ", Houston, she said, "has become home to me. Bestlifeonline.com is part of the Meredith Health Group. Are insane ticket costs pricing Astros fans out of Opening Day? 21 hours ago, by Samantha Brodsky She retired from gymnastics after graduating college, but McKenna is still involved with the sport in her own way. Houston Baptist University football program. foreverourlegacy.org. 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.. 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. A post shared by Mary Lou Retton (@marylouretton) Here is to seeing more of Skyla as she takes adulthood and the world by storm! '", Despite her daughters' success in their athletic pursuits, Retton has said that the main thing she's focused on is their happiness. 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 all, Retton was the first American woman to ever win an Olympic all-around gold at the 1984 summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. See Her Now. The retired Olympic gold-medal-winning gymnast revealed her split from her husband of 27 years publicly for the first time on Monday nights episode of Dancing with the Stars before being eliminated. Kelley only began pursuing elite gymnastics five years ago at the age of 17, Today previously reported. She did rack up some impressive scores on the mat in high school, however. Kelley also retweeted this video of her emotional reaction at the end of her performance. I dont think the ex told anybody, but thats just coming from me that could be wrong. And we trained hard - 70 vaults a day onto hard surfaces. Retton's daughter McKenna Kelley followed in her mother's footsteps, competing in gymnastics for Louisiana State University in 2019. McKenna then took her gymnastics career to the collegiate level at Louisiana State University. Im scared!, I guess I got to find myself a dancer, dont I? she adds. "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. 1 day ago, by Victoria Edel One gold, two silver and two bronze. She earned her Bachelors in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Southern California and has been seen on Good Morning America. } 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). Mary Lou Retton's five medals in the 1984 Olympics: Gold: All-around champion, scoring perfect 10.0s on the vault and floor exercise to win. Mary Lou Retton wrote "Gateways to Happiness" to share her philosophy about success and life. My close-knit people obviously knew, but not a lot of people knew, she says. Get daily fitness inspiration right in your inbox. One gold, two silver and two bronze. Growing up, I never had that pressure, Kelley told espnW as a freshman competitor. Im really excited for what this new chapter is going to bring instead of being that scared person that I was a couple of months ago. If you have any concerns about the accuracy of our content, please reach out to our editors by e-mailing pic.twitter.com/qhggSex98D. Brianne Tracy is a staff writer on the PEOPLE music team. [28][29][30] In 2019, Retton became a spokesperson for Australian Dream, a pain relief cream. 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. That sucked all the calcium out of me," she said, laughing. 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. ( Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle ). She won gold, 2x Bronze, and 2x Silver medals at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. 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. 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.. See Michael Jordan's Three Oldest Kids All Grown Up. "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. 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. These are the fruits that are safe (and not safe) for your dog to eat, These Clever Food Hacks Get Kids To Eat Healthy, The 5 Ways You Know Youre Too Old For Roommates. A women's gymnastics competition tour open to USA Gymnastics, NGA, & AAU levels 1-10 and Xcel divisions. "Her voice is so distinct, and I can always hear it in the crowd," she told ESPN. David Barron reported on sports media, college football and Olympic sports for the Houston Chronicle until his retirement in January 2021. My last thought to you was, Remember this. My words were, remember this, baby girl. I just felt this is my chance to really be clear and to be transparent to people. "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. 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. 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. Retton won the gold medal in the event. RELATED:Nadia Comneci Scored a Perfect 10 at the Olympics 45 Years Ago. [emailprotected]. 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. Its woven into every fabric of my being. 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. Of course, Retton was on hand to cheer her daughter on at the NCAA championships. HOUCHRON CAPTION (08/19/2004): Retton four daughters (from left) Shayla, 9, Skyla, 4, Emma, 2, and McKenna, 7, are her most prized possessions. 403 N 3rd St, Richmond , VA 23219. She also posts frequently about her mom and dad. 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. [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. The image was posted to commemorate the latters milestone leaving high-school. Retton, the first American woman to win the individual all-around gold medal in gymnastics, flashed "perfect 10" fingers and blew kisses to Kelley, whose seamless routine helped her team finish second at the competition. 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. 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. And I just can't help myself!". She graduated from Baylor University in 2017 with a major in Health Science. 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. 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See Michael Jordan's Three Oldest Kids All Grown Up. 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. 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. I talked to Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin before I went out, and they said it would be an incredible journey thats what I was hoping for, and it certainly was. Gina Vivinetto is a writer for TODAY.com. Trailing Szabo (after uneven bars and balance beam) by 0.15 with two events to go, Retton scored perfect 10s on floor exercise and vaultthe last event in an especially dramatic fashion, as there had been fears that her knee injury and the subsequent surgery might impair her performance. Who can blame a mom, when there's so much to cheer about? One fan, @emmadilemma83 wrote alongside a heart emoji: She definitely has your smile!!!! "McKenna was very . No more high school for this young lady! And I just can't help myself!" When McKenna Kelley nailed her floor routine at the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships, no one was prouder than her mom, Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton. See Her Now. if( 'moc.enilnoefiltseb' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { and I LOVE it!!. "Honestly, I don't really give advice or get involved unless asked," she explained. Retton could be spotted in the stands blowing kisses and holding up 10 fingers for a perfect 10. She'll be starting her junior year this fall and is in the Alpha Phi sorority. The tiny powerhouse, who was dubbed "America's sweetheart" at the time, left Los Angeles with two additional silver medals and two bronzes the most won by any athlete during that summer's games, which was boycotted by the Soviet Union and the East bloc. These signs can't quit complaining to anyone who will listen. The tour benefits The McKenna Kelly Foundation, which donates to non-profits focusing on mental health. Kerri Strug's Heroic Vault Was 25 Years Ago. McKenna and her mom co-host the women's gymnastics tour, "For Mothers and Daughters Forever Our Legacy." See Her Now. 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. 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. Now, Retton is back home in Texas with her family and taking time to rest after dealing with some DWTS-related injuries. I wanted to tell people why., I knew I wanted to do it in a classy way, she continues. 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. By Uplifting Today / April 24, 2019. Meanwhile, Kelley also later celebrated her second place spot on Instagram, sharing the below photo: Last night, I learned that winning isnt everything; that I dont need a 1st place win to know that I have already won, she wrote in the caption, going on to thank the school, the team and her coaches and other supporters. 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. 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. Now live in Houston with her husband and their four kids. 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. . 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. Back when I competed, it was the pretty little butterflies, which I was not. RELATED:See Michael Jordan's Three Oldest Kids All Grown Up. 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. 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. Kelley is a senior, which means this might be her final season; she has one year left of eligibility but isn't sure whether she'll use it. "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. But Kelley seems to be handling these expectations without breaking a sweat, as evidenced by her recent performance in the NCAA championships. At 26 years old, Shayla is Retton's eldest daughter. 2002). Retton was born with hip dysplasia, a condition that her years as a competitive gymnast aggravated. "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. You had to watch ABC, because that was the only place to see us. The image was posted to commemorate the latter's milestone leaving high-school. [] Gymnast Mary Lou Retton made history at the 1984 Summer Olympics when she became the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami). But that kind of gymnastics has gone. Gymnast Carly Patterson Won Olympic Gold 17 Years Ago. Roger Clemens makes surprise appearance at Astros' Spring Training, Hiker captures 'once-in-a-lifetime' photo of wildlife at Brazos Bend State Park, Why Johnson City in Texas Hill Country is the new, cooler Fredericksburg. pic.twitter.com/FayDig23lR, LSU Gymnastics (@LSUgym) April 21, 2019. Are ticket costs pricing Houston Astros fans out of Opening Day? 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. She also competed in multiple club gymnastics competitions when she was in high school. '", Despite her daughters' success in their athletic pursuits, Retton has said that the main thing she's focused on is their happiness. That's all she is.". The retired Olympic gold-medal-winning gymnast revealed her split from her husband of 27 years publicly for the. A post shared by shay schrep (@shaylaschrepfer). She went to The University of Texas, where she met her husband, Shannon Kelly, who played quarterback for the Longhorns. Simone Biles has won more world championships, Nastia Liukin has as many Olympic medals and Shannon Miller has more world and Olympic medals combined.
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