John F. Kennedy
Famous Military Veterans
Marilyn Monroe
Anthony Weiner
My Ghost Story
I Survived
Babe Ruth
Johnny Cash
Georgia O'Keefe
I Survived
2 photos
Quick Facts
- NAME: Mary Lou Retton
- OCCUPATION: Gymnast
- BIRTH DATE: January 24, 1968 (Age: 45)
- PLACE OF BIRTH: Fairmont, West Virginia
- ZODIAC SIGN: Aquarius
Best Known For
Mary Lou Retton is a retired champion gymnast who won gold, silver and bronze medals at the 1984 Olympics. She was featured on the Wheaties cereal box.
Quiz
Think you know about Biography?
Answer questions and see how you rank against other players.
Play NowMary Lou Retton. (2013). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 04:12, May 24, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/mary-lou-retton-9455941.
Mary Lou Retton. [Internet]. 2013. The Biography Channel website. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/mary-lou-retton-9455941 [Accessed 24 May 2013].
"Mary Lou Retton." 2013. The Biography Channel website. May 24 2013, 04:12 http://www.biography.com/people/mary-lou-retton-9455941.
"Mary Lou Retton," The Biography Channel website, 2013, http://www.biography.com/people/mary-lou-retton-9455941 [accessed May 24, 2013].
"Mary Lou Retton," The Biography Channel website, http://www.biography.com/people/mary-lou-retton-9455941 (accessed May 24, 2013).
Mary Lou Retton [Internet]. The Biography Channel website; 2013 [cited 2013 May 24] Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/mary-lou-retton-9455941.
Mary Lou Retton, http://www.biography.com/people/mary-lou-retton-9455941 (last visited May 24, 2013).
Mary Lou Retton. The Biography Channel website. 2013. Available at: http://www.biography.com/people/mary-lou-retton-9455941. Accessed May 24, 2013.
Synopsis
Mary Lou Retton was born on January 24, 1968 in Fairmont, West Virginia. She trained in Gymnastics with Romanian coach Bela Karolyi and won the American Cup and the U.S. Nationals. At the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Retton won a gold medal in the women's all-around. It was the first time a female gymnast outside Eastern Europe won that event. She retired from gymnastics in 1985.
Profile
Gymnast. Born January 24, 1968 in Fairmont, West Virginia. After developing a love of gymnastics as a girl, Mary Lou Retton moved to Houston, Texas, to train with acclaimed Romanian coach Bela Karolyi. Under his direction, she developed a style to suit her strong, compact frame, winning several prestigious competitions, including the American Cup and the U.S. Nationals.
At the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Mary Lou Retton won a gold medal in the women's all-around by earning a perfect score of 10 in the vault, the final event of the competition. It was the first time a female gymnast outside Eastern Europe won the Olympic all-around title. Retton also won two silver and two bronze medals in individual and team competitions.
Mary Lou Retton’s wholesome exuberance won her many commercial endorsements, including an appearance on the front of a Wheaties cereal box. She retired from gymnastics in 1985 after winning her third American Cup title and was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997.
Mary Lou Retton resides in Houston, Texas, with her husband and four daughters. She is an occasional commentator for televised gymnastics.
© 2013 A+E Networks. All rights reserved.
profile name: Mary Lou Retton profile occupation:
Your Connections
Sign in with Facebook to see how you and your friends are connected to famous icons.
Profile Connections
Included In These Groups
-
Groundbreaking Women
View groupDespite all sorts of institutional obstacles, women have continued to reach stratospheric levels of success in a full gamut of professional pursuits, whether as scientists, scribes, educators, governmental leaders, athletes, designers, film directors or performers. Learn more about the plethora of triumphs obtained by our group of trailblazers.
Visit Biography.com's Women's History group to explore more biographies, photos and videos of some the world's most fascinating women.
Groundbreaking Women 71 people in this group
-
Olympic Gymnasts
View groupSince 1928, we have watched some of the world's most talented gymnasts leap, flip and twirl their way to Olympic gold. From the balance beam to the uneven bars, these poised athletes have balanced artistry and athleticism to win medals and the public's hearts. From legends like Nadia Comaneci and Olga Korbut to favorites like Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin, Biography looks at the famous gymnasts who have earned Olympic medals.
Olympic Gymnasts 10 people in this group
-
Famous Aquarians 553 people in this group
