Watch Kelley's finals floor routine above (wait until the end to see Retton cheering along). Who can blame a mom, when there's so much to cheer about? "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. 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Among them, a bona fide gymnastics icon: Kelley's mom, Mary Lou Retton, the first American woman to win an Olympic all-around gold, who was flashing perfect-10 fingers, blowing kisses to Kelley . See Her Now. 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. You know, all the things that come with a divorce of that magnitude with such a large family. She was also on the school's acrobatics and tumbling team for all four years. 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Instead of pursuing gymnastics, Skyla was on the cheerleading team during her four years of high school. foreverourlegacy.org. 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. ** 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. The image was posted to commemorate the latter's milestone leaving high-school. 08/11/2004 (E. Joe Deering/Chronicle). May Lou five medals on display in her home. "With this back surgery, you get to the point when the pain overrides the fear of getting it done. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton and her daughter, McKenna Kelley, brought their gymnastics invitational to Rhode Island on Friday. 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. Bestlifeonline.com is part of the Meredith Health Group. Retton is credited as the first American female gymnast to win gold in the all-around competition at the Olympics. ", Gymnastics, she said, "is a brutal sport. She retired from gymnastics after graduating college, but McKenna is still involved with the sport in her own way. I wanted to tell people why., I knew I wanted to do it in a classy way, she continues. "You go back to Nastia in 2008. 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. Three stuck with it, one was a cheerleader. Happy Monday! she wrote in the caption alongside several happy face emojis. 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. 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. Retton's routine on the uneven bars included a move that came to be called "The Retton Flip." } ); [3] She has been with the brand since starting as an intern nearly six years ago, covering all things entertainment across print and digital platforms. 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. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from POPSUGAR. 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. 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! 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. The tour benefits The McKenna Kelly Foundation, which donates to non-profits focusing on mental health. She also competed in multiple club gymnastics competitions when she was in high school. 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. This is a carousel. } Mary Lou Retton - The New York Times Next is Skyla Kelley, who's 21 years old and studying at Texas Tech University. I just felt this is my chance to really be clear and to be transparent to people. I wasnt there to bash my ex. WHERE ARE THEY NOW: America's Youngest Olympic Stars - Yahoo! That was a big part of my struggle the last few years do I do it? View this post on Instagram #grateful A post. 2022 Galvanized Media. ), I got away and just started over, she says. Last Christmas, she shared a photo of her and her sisters in matching pajamas on Instagram. RELATED: Nadia Comneci Scored a Perfect 10 at the Olympics 45 Years Ago. As Kelley stood up to take a final bow, the sea of purple-and-gold-clad fans went wild. 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. "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. Mary Lou Retton Opens Up About Her Secret Divorce - Peoplemag She did rack up some impressive scores on the mat in high school, however. That's all she is.". 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. 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. And like her mom, she couldnt help but share an image of her newly won awards. 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. 2 hours ago, by Sarah Wasilak 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. Simone Biles has won more world championships, Nastia Liukin has as many Olympic medals and Shannon Miller has more world and Olympic medals combined. 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. See Her Now. She also participated in several cheer competitions, per Yahoo! Our LSU parents den!!! These signs can't quit complaining to anyone who will listen. Kelley also retweeted this video of her emotional reaction at the end of her performance. But my mom never, ever put pressure on us. Retton was thrust back into the spotlight when the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal hit the news in 2016. 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. (Not in Picture). 66.9k Followers, 1,325 Following, 744 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Mary Lou Retton (@marylouretton) marylouretton. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Retton doesn't like to interfere with her kids' gymnastics careers. McKenna won her first gymnastics competition when she was 17. 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. 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. Gymnast Carly Patterson Won Olympic Gold 17 Years Ago. (She shared the title with Mackenzie Brannan.) She was in tears as she watched her daughter and her team receive their trophy. At 26 years old, Shayla is Retton's eldest daughter. She'll be starting her junior year this fall and is in the Alpha Phi sorority. See Mary Lou Retton's 4 Daughters, Who All Followed in Her Footsteps I hadnt done that in over 30 years. if( 'moc.enilnoefiltseb' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { The comments section contained a lot of congratulatory messages for Skyla as well as multiple compliments for the mother-daughter duo for looking so alike. [8] She competed in the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angeles, California, during her sophomore year of high school. Is climate change causing more flight turbulence? For her performance, she was named Sports Illustrated Magazine's "Sportswoman of the Year." 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. 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. 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. 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. Mary Lou Retton is opening up about her divorce from ex-husband Shannon Kelley. 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. #allthefeels #lsugym @mckennamckelley @LSUgym pic.twitter.com/DbmbuWFazK, Alison Stevens (@AlisonMichele93) April 21, 2019. Mary Lou Retton (@marylouretton) Instagram photos and videos "All my problems came after I had my babies. My close-knit people obviously knew, but not a lot of people knew, she says. Happy Monday! Although Kelley is a senior at LSU, she missed the entirety of her junior season due to injury. And I feel like people have a hard time believing that. That's where I am at this stage of life.". LSU freshman McKenna Kelley Mary Lou Retton's daughter contributing That sucked all the calcium out of me," she said, laughing. See Her Now. "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. ( Smiley N. Pool / Chronicle ). She went to The University of Texas, where she met her husband, Shannon Kelly, who played quarterback for the Longhorns. 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I really have done a full turnaround.. Among them, a bona fide gymnastics icon: Kelley's mom, Mary Lou Retton, the first American woman to win an Olympic all-around gold, who was flashing perfect-10 fingers, blowing kisses to Kelley, and getting tearful as she watched her daughter's team take home the runner-up trophy. The teenage beauty was pictured wearing the traditional graduation attire a navy blue graduation gown with oversized sleeves and cap. ': What Happened to the Stars of the Iconic Series through the Years, Csar Domboy's Girlfriend: All We Know about the 'Outlander' Star's Dating History, Girl Bans Single Mom from Her Graduation after Learning She Works as a Cleaner Story of the Day, Pat Sajaks Son Insists the Star Calls Him Dr Sajak While His Daughter Follows in His Footsteps - Meet Them, Woman Visits Orphanage She Left 16 Years Ago and Sees a Girl Who Is Her Carbon Copy There Story of the Day. May Lou Wheaties box on display in her home. ", 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? [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. . 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. 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. Now, she says, shes ready for a new chapter. 1 day ago. A post shared by Mary Lou Retton (@marylouretton) From vegan to keto, which diet has the highest carbon footprint. RELATED:Nadia Comneci Scored a Perfect 10 at the Olympics 45 Years Ago. She attended her daughter's graduation ceremony wearing a floral print top and an elaborately designed mini skirt. Still, Retton is supportive of her daughters aspirations, as you may have been able to tell by her beaming face in the video. Dancing with the Stars airs Mondays (8 p.m. One fan, @emmadilemma83 wrote alongside a heart emoji: She definitely has your smile!!!! And the whole place, it was just such a moment.. Retton could be spotted in the stands blowing kisses and holding up 10 fingers for a perfect 10. IE 11 is not supported. "She's a hollerer, for sure." Mary Lou Retton a member of the 1984 Olympic gymnastics team won five medals in LA. 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. Reels. But who could blame her? While McKenna grew up with a world-famous Olympian, she says that her mom never pressured her into becoming a gymnast. [24], In January 2020, Retton was the first woman inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame. 1997), and Emma (b. The tour, which will start this November, is open to gymnasts from the beginner competitive level through the junior level. There will be no immediate honeymoon for Mary Lou Retton, a gold medal . 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. Mary Lou Retton wrote "Gateways to Happiness" to share her philosophy about success and life. Retton's daughter McKenna Kelley followed in her mother's footsteps, competing in gymnastics for Louisiana State University in 2019. The beautiful star was, however, more than happy to share that her grown daughter is on her way into adulthood. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); Mary Lou Retton is opening up about her divorce from ex-husband Shannon Kelley. I havent officially announced this, but I have decided to graduate with my senior class. Sign up for Yahoo Lifes daily newsletter. She also scored a perfect 10 on a floor exercise at a meet against Oregon State University. 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. The couple got married in January 2020. 08/11/2004 (E. Joe Deering/Chronicle). She scored a total of 79.175 to take the gold medal in individual all around competition. RELATED VIDEO: UCLA Gymnastics Star Katelyn Ohashi Breaks the Internet with Perfect Floor Routine. 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. 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. Amica Mutual Pavilion, Rhode Island Convention Center - ASM Global on We adhere to structured guidelines for sourcing information and linking to other resources, including She did not arrive at this point in her life unscathed. 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. she shared, laughing. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. 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. Ever. She would be eligible to remain on the team for one more season but the student-athlete says she wont be taking advantage of that opportunity. Emma is a rising sophomore on her college's gymnastics team. Growing up, I never had that pressure, Kelley told espnW as a freshman competitor. https://twitter.com/mckennamckelley/status/1120331854186536962. McKenna Kelley, left, and her mom, Mary Lou Retton, at the 1984 Summer Olympics. She's Mom to me, just like anyone else's mom." Kelley, 22, is one of Retton's four daughters (McKenna was the second), all of whom did or still do gymnastics. After experiencing increased pain from the condition, she underwent hip replacement surgery on her left hip in her mid-thirties. Although she didn't compete in any meets during her first year, her career is just beginning. Mary Lou Retton a member of the 1984 Olympic gymnastics team won five metals in LA. 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.. But the team's celebration, as confetti showered down, was just as jubilant as if they'd won it all. Last year, the athlete tore her Achilles tendon and spent the season on the sidelines. At 26 years old, Shayla is Retton's eldest daughter. 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. 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. She had gone away and I knew she was in there that strong, powerful, confident woman and I found her.. 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. She posts videos about her daily life, which often feature her siblings and husband, Wyatt Schrepfer, who also studied at Baylor University. One gold, two silver and two bronze. [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. Brianne Tracy is a staff writer on the PEOPLE music team. Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton, daughter McKenna bring invitational to 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. Im on a really good path, and Im happy with my life, Retton, 50, tells PEOPLE exclusively. 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. Mary's father was also a former collegiate basketball player. See Her Now. 2002). Also in 2016, Shayla and her team's pyramid toss scored a 9.9 at a meet against Quinnipiac University. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Retton won the gold medal in the event. She attended Fairmont Senior High School, but did not graduate. 66.9K followers. Mary Lou Retton is an American retired gymnast and Olympian. And while she may not share the same athletic interests as her family, they're still close. RELATED: See Michael Jordan's Three Oldest Kids All Grown Up. 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. [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).