Saturday, 23 November 2024

    Mary Lou Retton

    • Contest: The US Athletic Hall of Fame - Athletes 2024
    • Embed from Getty Images
    • Sport(s): Gymnastics
    • Statistics: 1 All-around Olympic Gold Medal (1984)
      1 Team Olympic Silver Medal (1984)
      1 Vault Silver Medal (1984)
      1 Uneven Bars Bronze Medal (1984)
      1 Floor Exercise Bronze Medal (1984)
      Member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame
      Member of the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
    • As popular as gymnastics is, it took until 1984 before the United States had a female champion at the Olympics, and it could not come in a more likable package than Mary Lou Retton.

      Retton emerged as the top American going into the 1984 Los Angeles Games, and though the Soviet Union led a boycott of the Games (meaning that Soviet competitor and favorite, Olga Mostepanova, would not be there), the Romanians did not follow their political ally and went to L.A.

      The native of West Virginia underwent a minor knee operation five weeks before the Olympics. Still, she was ready in time to beat Romania's Ecaterina Szabo for the Women’s gymnastics all-around, making her the first American to do so. She continued to have a stellar Olympics, winning two Silvers (team and vault) and two Bronzes (uneven bars and floor exercise).

      While other American gymnasts surpassed what she accomplished, Retton laid the groundwork and initiated a boom of the sport within the U.S.

      We are proud to nominate Mary Lou Retton for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.
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