This year, Kelley is a senior. 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. In her senior year, she scored a 9.8875 in the vault competition at the NCAA Team Finals. Gosh it brings it all back!!! (Not in Picture). She attended Fairmont Senior High School, but did not graduate. , Awesome, Youre All Set! RELATED:Kerri Strug's Heroic Vault Was 25 Years Ago. Route 79 permanently closes in Fall River Video / Feb 27, 2023 / 07:27 . 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. The retired Olympic gold-medal-winning gymnast revealed her split from her husband of 27 years publicly for the. 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. "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.". xhr.send(payload); if( 'moc.enilnoefiltseb' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { But Kelley seems to be handling these expectations without breaking a sweat, as evidenced by her recent performance in the NCAA championships. Retton was every bit the proud mama when she decided to share a picture of herself and her beautiful daughter. But 30 years ago, the equipment we worked on wasn't so forgiving. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { At the same Olympics, Retton won four additional medals: silver in the team competition and the horse vault, and bronze in the floor exercise and uneven bars. Happy Monday! she wrote in the caption alongside several happy face emojis. And for more entertainment and celebrity news sent right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. So far, Rettons May 25 post has amassed well over 8,000 likes and numerous comments. She did rack up some impressive scores on the mat in high school, however. View this post on Instagram. 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. Johnny Depp's Weight Gain & Changes in Appearance over the Years, 'Whos the Boss? She was in tears as she watched her daughter and her team receive their trophy. Ever. Nadia Comneci Scored a Perfect 10 at the Olympics 45 Years Ago. I hadnt done that in over 30 years. ! she described, adding, We are the loudest and most obnoxious parents [sic] section in the USA!! Mary Lou Retton is opening up about her divorce from ex-husband Shannon Kelley. Senior night topped off with a PERFECT 10 on the floor #priceless #beyondproud #mckennasmom," she gushed in the caption. 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. From vegan to keto, which diet has the highest carbon footprint. She scored a total of 79.175 to take the gold medal in individual all around competition. 1997), and Emma (b. "I will pick and choose some appearances, but I need to take care of these kids and support them and love them. 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. I wanted to tell people why., I knew I wanted to do it in a classy way, she continues. Advertisement Retton was every bit the proud mama when she decided to share a picture of herself and her beautiful daughter. But the team's celebration, as confetti showered down, was just as jubilant as if they'd won it all. 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. , 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. Of course, Retton was on hand to cheer her daughter on at the NCAA championships. Kelley is a senior at LSU, which means this may have been her last performance with the team. 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. 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. Now live in Houston with her husband and their four kids. Bestlifeonline.com is part of the Meredith Health Group. These signs can't quit complaining to anyone who will listen. Now, she says, shes ready for a new chapter. 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. A post shared by Mary Lou Retton (@marylouretton) That's all she is.". 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. Mary Lou Retton a member of the 1984 Olympic gymnastics team won five medals in LA. "You go back to Nastia in 2008. But who could blame her? But my mom never, ever put pressure on us. And I just can't help myself!". She brought the look to a finish wearing tall black heels and with her dark brown hair styled into a straight-edged cut. Retton was born with hip dysplasia, a condition that her years as a competitive gymnast aggravated. Im excited scared, but excited.. 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. 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. Mary Lou Retton is opening up about her divorce from ex-husband Shannon Kelley. And while she may not share the same athletic interests as her family, they're still close. 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. I'm gonna sit down like most of the other parents and just clap when you go and be quiet and civilized.' I wasnt there to bash my ex. [28][29][30] In 2019, Retton became a spokesperson for Australian Dream, a pain relief cream. 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. Im pretty beat up, she says. Naturally, the reminders and . See Her Now. She'll be starting her junior year this fall and is in the Alpha Phi sorority. Mary Lou Retton wrote "Gateways to Happiness" to share her philosophy about success and life. Happy Monday! 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. Retton, who wed Kelley in 1990, says that there wasnt one defining moment that led to their divorce, which was finalized in February. 2022 Galvanized Media. Former gymnast and Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton was at the Rhode Island Convention Center hosting a gymnastics meet. Great, Click the Allow Button Above ': 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. "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. 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. LSU finished second at the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships on Saturday, its fourth second-place finish since 2014, behind champions Oklahoma and ahead of third-place finishers UCLA. Experts give insight into the biggest social media lies. Advertisement "I'm on a really good path, and I'm happy with my life," Retton told People in 2018. One gold, two silver and two bronze. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. The tour, which will start this November, is open to gymnasts from the beginner competitive level through the junior level. by Njera Perkins var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); A post shared by Mary Lou Retton (@marylouretton), Even with four kids who've done gymnastics, Retton has never been tempted to coach them herself. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. 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. [18], In 1985, she received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member General Chuck Yeager. 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 ); After the show aired, Retton says a lot of people reached out and were surprised to hear that she and Kelley had separated. 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. [9], Retton lived in Houston, Texas,[10] until 2009, when her family returned to West Virginia. Details: Welcome to the For Mothers & Daughters Forever Our Legacy Invitational tour with Mary Lou Retton & McKenna Kelley, hosted by LR Productions. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Wherever she ends up next year, shes sure to dazzle. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton and her daughter, McKenna Kelley, brought their gymnastics invitational to Rhode Island on Friday. Houston pitmaster goes viral after hilarious TV interview, Astros GM Dana Brown has more praise team's top prospect, Principal fired for reading 'I Need a New Butt!' Its a 9.95 to end her illustrious career, the caption read. 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. Mary Lou Retton a member of the 1984 Olympic gymnastics team won five metals in LA. NO MORE HIGH SCHOOL FOR THIS YOUNG LADY. ** 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. She was one of the most beautiful gymnasts I've ever seen. In addition to McKenna, Retton has three other daughters with ex Shannon Kelley: Shayla Rae, 24, Skyla Brae, 19, and Emma Jean, 16. Gymnast Carly Patterson Won Olympic Gold 17 Years Ago. (Retton lives in Houston, and the show is filmed in Los Angeles. "All I can say is that to be the first is very special," said Retton, who in 1984 became the first U.S. woman to win an Olympic all-around gold medal in women's gymnastics, a feat since accomplished by Carly Patterson (2004), Liukin (2008), Gabrielle Douglas (2012) and Biles, of Spring, in Rio. Shes worked really hard to come back from a serious injury, did two events and was ready to do beam tonight. She appeared on a Wheaties box, and became the cereal's first official spokeswoman. "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. Born and raised in Fairmont, W.Va., (her father, Ron, at 5 feet 7, was a co-captain with Jerry West on West Virginia's 1959 NCAA Tournament finalists), Retton came to Houston at age 14 to train with Bela and Martha Karolyi, who trained the great Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci before coming to the United States in the early 1980s. One fan, @emmadilemma83 wrote alongside a heart emoji: She definitely has your smile!!!! Kerri Strug's Heroic Vault Was 25 Years Ago. My last thought to you was, Remember this. My words were, remember this, baby girl. 744 posts. And I feel like people have a hard time believing that. Retton was thrust back into the spotlight when the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal hit the news in 2016. } You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. "She's never made us feel like we had . View this post on Instagram #grateful A post. To see Mary Lou Retton's four daughters, read about their accomplishments in the gym, and hear more about her family, read on. The couple got married in January 2020. Its woven into every fabric of my being. Now live in Houston with her husband and their four kids. A post shared by Emma Kelley (@emmajeankelley). Brianne Tracy is a staff writer on the PEOPLE music team. . Tiger Nation, THANK YOU pic.twitter.com/M5cy5bZWUI. "Her voice is so distinct, and I can always hear it in the crowd," Kelley said. RELATED:Gymnast Carly Patterson Won Olympic Gold 17 Years Ago. ( 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. She shared on the show that she had gotten divorced from husband Shannon Kelley, whom she married in 1990. It's a small town in a big city and such a sports town where everybody supports each other.". Although she didn't compete in any meets during her first year, her career is just beginning. ), I got away and just started over, she says. 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. 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. She had gone away and I knew she was in there that strong, powerful, confident woman and I found her.. They'll make their remarks with a straight face, even if they're joking. She also participated in several cheer competitions, per Yahoo! Last Christmas, she shared a photo of her and her sisters in matching pajamas on Instagram. "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. Mary's father was also a former collegiate basketball player. You had to watch ABC, because that was the only place to see us. Also in 2016, Shayla and her team's pyramid toss scored a 9.9 at a meet against Quinnipiac University. Here is to seeing more of Skyla as she takes adulthood and the world by storm! "I try to make every competition I can," Retton said in a 2016 ESPN feature. Fast-forward today, and that's all you see because that is how the sport has evolved to benefit powerful, athletic gymnasts. I'm gonna sit down like most of the other parents and just clap when you go and be quiet and civilized.' 07/25/2001 - Mary Lou Retton relaxes while talking to actress Alicia Church (who plays 'Jumpy') on the set The Flip Flop Shop at KUHT studios on 7-25-01. RELATED:Nadia Comneci Scored a Perfect 10 at the Olympics 45 Years Ago. Unlike her older sisters, Skyla isn't involved in collegiate gymnastics. For her performance, she was named Sports Illustrated Magazine's "Sportswoman of the Year." 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. Instead of pursuing gymnastics, Skyla was on the cheerleading team during her four years of high school. See Her Now. She is a frequent analyst for televised gymnastics and attended The University of Texas at Austin after the Olympics.[31]. The perfect tummy control bodysuit, a popcorn gadget, more bestsellers starting at $8. Who can blame a mom, when there's so much to cheer about? Wonderful final performance for her career at @LSUgym pic.twitter.com/DR9R83G9P8, Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) April 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Sadayuki Mikami). McKenna and her mom co-host the women's gymnastics tour, "For Mothers and Daughters Forever Our Legacy." That made it special for people. A women's gymnastics competition tour open to USA Gymnastics, NGA, & AAU levels 1-10 and Xcel divisions. Retired American gymnast, Mary Lou Retton, took to social media to celebrate her look-alike daughter, Skylas graduation from high school. Mary Lou Retton and McKenna Kelley | Mary Lou. 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. Im on a really good path, and Im happy with my life, Retton, 50, tells PEOPLE exclusively. In fact, in 2016, Retton told ESPN she'd once vowed to Kelley, whose dad is Retton's husband, Shannon Kelley, that she'd try to tone it down. Their daughters' names are Shayla, McKenna, Skyla, & Emma Kelley. 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. See Her Now. And like her mom, she couldnt help but share an image of her newly won awards. [19][20], Retton was elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1992. "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. 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.