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. She has been with the brand since starting as an intern nearly six years ago, covering all things entertainment across print and digital platforms. 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. I'm gonna sit down like most of the other parents and just clap when you go and be quiet and civilized.' 403 N 3rd St, Richmond , VA 23219. scientific studies and medical journals. The couple got married in January 2020. And I just can't help myself!". I'm gonna sit down like most of the other parents and just clap when you go and be quiet and civilized.' Retton said she and Kelley simply grew apart. 1,054 Likes, 31 Comments - Mary Lou Retton (@marylouretton) on Instagram: "Having so much fun with this young lady #Mother/DaughterForeverOurLegacy2023" This year, Kelley is a senior. On LSU's senior night in March, Kelley earned her first career perfect 10, with Retton watching from the crowd. Next is Skyla Kelley, who's 21 years old and studying at Texas Tech University. Instead of pursuing gymnastics, Skyla was on the cheerleading team during her four years of high school. Simone Biles has won more world championships, Nastia Liukin has as many Olympic medals and Shannon Miller has more world and Olympic medals combined. The LSU Gymnastics team also commemorated the special moment online, tweeting an image of Kelley during her routine. "No one had ever seen a gymnast like me. She did not arrive at this point in her life unscathed. 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. The asymmetrical neckline of the top had the star flaunting her beautiful neckline and the short length of the skirt, her well-toned legs. . The history-making Olympian's kids have all been involved in gymnastics at some point. 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. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami). It was an especially astonishing return to the top for Kelley, who sat out her junior year because of a torn Achilles tendon. While McKenna grew up with a world-famous Olympian, she says that her mom never pressured her into becoming a gymnast. Shayla was on her college's acrobatics and tumbling team. McKenna won her first gymnastics competition when she was 17. Mary Lou Retton is a legendary gymnast who is best known for winning a gold medal in the Olympic all-around at the 1984 summer Olympics in Los Angeles. 744 posts. Gymnast Carly Patterson Won Olympic Gold 17 Years Ago. See Mary Lou Retton's 4 Daughters, Who All Followed in Her Footsteps. 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. (She shared the title with Mackenzie Brannan.) 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. 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. 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. In addition to McKenna, Retton has three other daughters with ex Shannon Kelley: Shayla Rae, 24, Skyla Brae, 19, and Emma Jean, 16. Last Christmas, she shared a photo of her and her sisters in matching pajamas on Instagram. She has done an amazing job.. Tiger Nation, THANK YOU pic.twitter.com/M5cy5bZWUI. Shayla didn't continue tumbling after college, however. She now has her own YouTube channel, which she started in 2015. 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. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina, where she spends her free time hiking, reading and snugglingwith her "Friends" box set. My daughters were amazing, she says. foreverourlegacy.org. Ever. 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. 1997), and Emma (b. Back when I competed, it was the pretty little butterflies, which I was not. She was also on the school's acrobatics and tumbling team for all four years. 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. Speaking to Parade in 2016, the gold medalist noted that she doesn't give them pointers about the sport unless they ask for it. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { But 30 years ago, the equipment we worked on wasn't so forgiving. 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. And like her mom, she couldnt help but share an image of her newly won awards. You may have spotted, in the crowd there, Kelleys mom, cheering along with everyone else. David Barron reported on sports media, college football and Olympic sports for the Houston Chronicle until his retirement in January 2021. Skyla bears a striking resemblance to Retton, and that comes through as the young beauty stood near the renowned sports star. 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. RELATED:See Michael Jordan's Three Oldest Kids All Grown Up. , 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. 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. Im excited scared, but excited.. [8] She competed in the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angeles, California, during her sophomore year of high school. 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 was very . 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. 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. 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. So far, Rettons May 25 post has amassed well over 8,000 likes and numerous comments. Last year, the athlete tore her Achilles tendon and spent the season on the sidelines. Ahead of her daughters last outing on the floor, Retton revealed that she told Kelley to make sure to enjoy the moment. Wonderful final performance for her career at @LSUgym pic.twitter.com/DR9R83G9P8, Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) April 21, 2019. "Her voice is so distinct, and I can always hear it in the crowd," Kelley said. 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. Are insane ticket costs pricing Astros fans out of Opening Day? 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. It really helped me find that woman that I was searching for. But the equipment today is better, and they train smarter today.". HOUCHRON CAPTION (09/13/1998): Mary Lou Retton, from left, 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. IE 11 is not supported. 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. RELATED: Nadia Comneci Scored a Perfect 10 at the Olympics 45 Years Ago. Ill probably have some more operations in the future, but its alright.. ** FILE ** Mary Lou Retton is shown during her perfect performance in the floor exercise in the Olympic individual all-around finals of the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Calif., in this Aug. 3, 1984 photo. ( Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle ). 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. [28][29][30] In 2019, Retton became a spokesperson for Australian Dream, a pain relief cream. and I LOVE it!!. 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 was in tears as she watched her daughter and her team receive their trophy. [21], In 1993, the Associated Press released results of a sports study[22] in which Retton was statistically tied for first place with fellow Olympian Dorothy Hamill as the most popular athlete in America. 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. "Honestly, I don't really give advice or get involved unless asked," she explained. Wonderful final performance for her career at @LSUgym pic.twitter.com/DR9R83G9P8. "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. The last routine of the night was Kelleys, for which she earned a 9.95, which is only .05 from a perfect 10 score. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. Registered gymnasts will receive a custom GK leotard. 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. In her senior year, she scored a 9.8875 in the vault competition at the NCAA Team Finals. 1 day ago. Theres that fine line between a daughter and a friend, so theres a lot that I couldnt share with them. 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. She's got the gold. The former Olympic gymnast is executive producer and star of the show, a series for children ages 6 and under. "Back in my day, I was kind of on the cutting edge," Retton said in an interview before Rio. She also posts frequently about her mom and dad. 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. Retton was thrust back into the spotlight when the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal hit the news in 2016. 66.9K followers. McKenna, who's now 24, was co-championof the Nastia Liukin Cup, an annual U.S. competition hosted by the former Olympian, in 2014. Gosh it brings it all back!!! "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. That's all she is.". From vegan to keto, which diet has the highest carbon footprint. 08/11/2004 (E. Joe Deering/Chronicle). Although Kelley is a senior at LSU, she missed the entirety of her junior season due to injury. 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 didnt quite understand all that her mother had accomplished. ")[7] Her father, Ronnie, operated a coal-industry transportation equipment business. 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 . } National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association. Verified. } else { "I travel from January to May watching them compete, and that is the joy of my life. That sucked all the calcium out of me," she said, laughing. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); 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. "McKenna was very . Kelley also retweeted this video of her emotional reaction at the end of her performance. "She's a hollerer, for sure.". 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. xhr.send(payload); And while she may not share the same athletic interests as her family, they're still close. Nadia Comneci Scored a Perfect 10 at the Olympics 45 Years Ago. Speaking to Parade in 2016, the gold medalist noted that she doesn't give them pointers about the sport unless they ask for it. I showed the world what the sport was going to be - power and athleticism as opposed to just the graceful, artistic side of things.". No more high school for this young lady! 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. 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,. [23], In 1997, Retton was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame. She was coached by Gary Rafaloski. ET) on ABC. Advertisement "I'm on a really good path, and I'm happy with my life," Retton told People in 2018. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. McKenna then took her gymnastics career to the collegiate level at Louisiana State University. See Her Now. At 26 years old, Shayla is Retton's eldest daughter. Brianne Tracy is a staff writer on the PEOPLE music team. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton and her daughter, McKenna Kelley, brought their gymnastics invitational to Rhode Island on Friday. 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. And I feel like people have a hard time believing that. 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. The image was posted to commemorate the latters milestone leaving high-school. 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. Happy Monday! Next is Skyla Kelley, who's 21 years old and studying at Texas Tech University. 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. 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. She also participated in several cheer competitions, per Yahoo! My close-knit people obviously knew, but not a lot of people knew, she says. 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. Retton is executive producer and star of the show, a series for under-6 set. 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. To see Mary Lou Retton's four daughters, read about their accomplishments in the gym, and hear more about her family, read on. https://twitter.com/mckennamckelley/status/1120331854186536962. As Kelley took her final bow after her stellar performance, the crowd went wild. Mary Lou Retton, the Olympic all-around champion in 1984, is raising four daughters, and three of them are gymnasts. She does have the option of returning as a fifth-year senior, however. Shes worked really hard to come back from a serious injury, did two events and was ready to do beam tonight. Advertisement Retton was every bit the proud mama when she decided to share a picture of herself and her beautiful daughter. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); After experiencing increased pain from the condition, she underwent hip replacement surgery on her left hip in her mid-thirties. ", Knots Landing: Season 13, Episode 15 "Letting Go" (23 January 1992), An Evening at the Improv: Season 14, Episode 11 (3 February 1994), "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994) - Full Cast & Crew", Olympic Champion Mary Lou Retton Stars In New PBS Television Series, "Celebrating Every '80s Reference in That RadioShack Super Bowl Commercial", Where Are They Now? 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.