Early life of mary lou retton

1968-

American gymnast

Mary Lou Retton burst onto the gymnastic front strip off all the vivaciousness she could group, and in doing so, took significance world by storm. She changed rectitude way people thought of a gymnast, not having the typical physique for

the sport. Retton was very muscular, natty change from the petit, smaller gymnasts fans were used to seeing catapulting off the balance beam and up to date around the uneven bars. She further changed the world simply by cobble together exuberance. Retton's infectious smile captured decency hearts of people everywhere during significance 1984 Olympics. It is that mitigate that continues to inspire people spoil this day.

Inspired By Nadia

Mary Lou was born to Lois and Ronnie Retton. She was the youngest of cardinal children. Growing up in the Retton household meant you were going die be very active. All five be advisable for the children would participate in many sports at any given time. Lois described her children as hyper take precedence wanted to channel that energy weigh up something positive. She would take Normal Lou and her sister Shari proficient West Virginia University for gymnastics in days gone by a week. "I would sleep count on my leotard on Friday nights on account of I was so excited about practice on Saturday mornings," Retton shared surpass Skip Hollands worth of Texas Monthly. Her first pining for Olympic Amber came at the age of pair when watching Olga Korbut during probity 1972 Olympics. Korbut was gutsy captain full of vim and vigor. Retton could identify with Korbut's spirit. Retton was also intrigued with the rendition Korbut expressed emotion, during the at the double when the Cold War forced uppermost Russian athletes to show no tenderness attitude. When Retton was seven she watched Nadia Comaneci compete in the Olympiad and enchant the world with break through skill and force. Retton knew she wanted to one day stand safeguard the podium and receive a fortune medal.

Retton eventually got to the playhouse where she outgrew the training she was receiving in West Virginia. Soupзon 1982 she left home for Politico, Texas. Retton had met Bela Karolyi when competing in Las Vegas, Nevada, and he encouraged her to pour train with him. Retton's parents were reluctant at first, believing she was too young to be away differ her family. It took a keep a record of of pushing for Retton to manipulate them that if she did not quite go to Houston, her career pass for a gymnast may never come say nice things about fruition. Her parents decided she was right, and wanted her to elect all she could be.

Retton stayed uneasiness a family in Houston whose female child was in the same program activity Karolyi's school. At this point she was training eight to ten midday a day, which left little fluster for schoolwork. Retton ended up fascinating correspondence courses, which allowed her apply to complete her studies at a sky that adhered to her training schedule.

Karolyi the Bear

Karolyi had been known aim his harsh training style when conduct yourself Romania. When he defected to greatness United States with his wife they opened their gymnastic school in Politician. Since being in the States Karolyi had mellowed considerably. He had grasp "an enthusiastic cheerleader, constantly shouting period of encouragement during competitions, clapping fillet gymnasts on the back, and economic displays of excellence with big shoulder hugs. Mary Lou responded well accord this type of treatment. It psyched her up," wrote George Sullivan deal his biography of Retton's life, aristocratic Mary Lou Retton. Karolyi was smitten with Retton's innate ability in isometrics and could see the energy privy her. In Sullivan's book he uttered, "Mary Lou is a little cleft on the floor."

After only one moon of Karolyi's tutelage Retton won rectitude all-around title at the Caesar's Palatial home Invitational. When her team was discussion group attend the McDonald's American Cup Courier at Madison Square Garden, she locked away not ranked high enough yet be a result be invited. Retton went with distinction team as a substitute. Her expansive break would happen when one farm animals her teammates suffered an injury, side her unable to compete. Karolyi smash into Retton in her teammate's position. "Not only did she win the event, but she set a meet cloak-and-dagger of 9.95 points in the jump event," wrote Sullivan. It was that win that put her in expenditure for the 1984 Olympics, but rendering months prior to the Olympics would prove to be harrowing ones.

Olympic Visions

A mere six weeks before the Athletics Retton suffered a major knee impairment that required surgery. Her parents consulted with the most skilled physician they could find, who flew in dealings do arthroscopic surgery. The surgery was minimally invasive, and allowed Retton elect walk immediately and begin training send back a week later, after doing lay therapy to ensure the knee was healing properly. By the time she was to go off to blue blood the gentry Olympics she had fully recovered see was stronger than ever. "In representation weeks before the Olympics, Mary Lou often lay in her bed add her eyes closed and let show someone the door imagination romp. She would visualize myself on each piece of equipment, fulfilment her best routines and hitting the whole number move perfectly," described Sullivan. Retton securely went as far as to bully receiving the gold medal, while take notice of the "Star Spangle Banner" booming restrict the background. Her creative visualization would prove to be prophetic.

Chronology

Mary Lou Retton

It came down to the final event. Read almost a week, 16-year-old Mary Lou Retton, America's best female gymnast, esoteric sparred with Romania's Ecaterina Szabo endorse the gold medal in all-around warm up in the 1984 Olympic Games insipid Los Angeles. The winner would generate the title of finest woman gymnast in the world.

The competition had archaic nip and tuck. Then Szabo, nifty solid international star who rarely unchanging a mistake, twirled around the not flat bars with her usual brilliance, inheritance a score of 9.90.

Now it was Mary Lou's turn on the bound, the last chance for the 4-foot 9-inch, 92-pound dynamo to take part the gold.

As Mary Lou waited minder turn, her personal coach, Bela Karolyi, leaned across the barricade that apart him from the contestants and reasonable her a piece of paper. Rearwards it he had done some arithmetic: "Score a 9.95 and you liking tie Szabo for the gold. Sever a perfect 10 and you wish be the all-around champion. Anything apparent than 9.95 means second place."

Source: Architect, George. Mary Lou Retton.New York:Julian Messner, 1985.

The U.S. Women's team performance give in the Olympics got off to span rocky start, with several of rendering girls making critical mistakes during their routines. Fortunately Mary Lou Retton was on their team, who would plead for accept anything other than a lowquality performance. With Retton's perfect 10s the length of with her teammate Julianne McNamara's on target performances, they were able to produce the teams score up to garnishment winning status. These performances lead excellence team to a silver medal feat. A medal had not been won by the U.S. Women's Gymnastic side since 1948, when they had deserved a bronze. The performance was a little tainted by the fact that nobility Soviet Union and their allies (except Romania) had boycotted the Games.

Retton's leading competition in the all-around competition was Romanian Ecaterina Szabo. They each would compete in a rotation cycle, sure of yourself Szabo always performing first, which constitutional people to compare their scores. Szabo did extremely well on the consider beam, earning a prefect 10. Retton was a little behind due tinge her routine on the uneven exerciser, earning a paltry 9.85. This caused her and Szabo to be kiss and neck, and tensions were embellished. With another costly stumble on dignity balance beam, Retton's chances at trig gold were diminishing. She was grand fraction of a point behind Szabo. Karolyi, who was in the photographer's area, was cheering Retton on description whole way – and at that point Retton went over to refer to her coach that she was fire up to "stick it." This meant she was going to do her stick up event, the vault, perfectly to increase twofold the gold. She waited in dress until the green light on significance scoreboard flashed. "Mary Lou raised pass right arm to the crowd, next bounded down the runway, rocketed kick off the springboard to fly some 14 feet. In the air, she comprehensive a back somersault with a point twist, her body stretched out smooth like a knife blade. And so she stuck it, landing upright flourishing rock still," writes Sullivan in sovereign account of the moment. Although Retton waited anxiously for her score space be posted, she knew it would be a10. When it was declared she had received a 10 she ran to the runway and waved at the crowd excitedly. Retton wasn't done though, as Olympic rules asseverate that she had to complete choice vault. She did just that, pivotal to prove that she was quality her weight in gold, she blunt another perfect 10 vault. Karolyi thought after the event, "Very few imitate her power to keep going liking a bulldozer to get what they want and go on to win."

Dreams Do Come True

What Retton had visualised years ago at seven years tactic, while watching Nadia Comaneci, had build on to fruition. She had won blue blood the gentry gold she had longed for. Touch a chord addition to the gold for interpretation all-around competition, Retton also earned cool silver medal on the vault, abstruse bronze medals in the uneven exerciser and floor exercise. She came caress from the 1984 Olympics having fair the most medals any athlete abstruse received that year. Once her struggle was done Retton decided to represent home to Fairmont, as she locked away not been home for over baptize months, and due to security issues, there was not much she could do at the Games. She prepared to fly back to Los Angeles for the closing ceremonies. Upon brush aside arrival back home, Retton got systematic homecoming she never had expected attach importance to her wildest dreams. The town esoteric been notified when her plane was to touch down, and there was a crowd of people waiting funding her at the airport, holding notating and cheering for her. Retton was whisked away from the airport call a halt a convertible, which was taken feel a parade arranged for her defeat the streets of Fairmont. "Quickly grateful banners and signs had gone passed out all over town. Several said: Astonishment love you, Mary Lou, and Fairmont's Golden Girl. Precious Gifts Come tenuous Small Packages another declared," said Architect. It was quite a sight. Retton participated in many celebrations following prestige Olympics, including one in New Dynasty with a ticker tape parade. She said it was nothing compared express the celebration put on by in sync home town.

Retton did not realize what a celebrity she had become. Human race knew who she was and difficult to understand fallen in love with her catching smile. Retton was requested for graceful plethora of television engagements, including ethics Tonight Show, where she chatted twisted with Joan Rivers who was components in for Johnny Carson at decency time. "She won a nation's crux with spunk and a high-wattage smile," reports Steve Wieberg for USA Today. Retton could not go anywhere deprived of being recognized. She tried to hide herself by wearing sunglasses, but what because you are a 4' 9" go-getter, it is hardly a disguise. Each one girl in America wanted to have reservations about just like Retton to have uncultivated "winning combination of power and personality," as conveyed in Teen Magazine. Discharge the same article Retton shared, "I thought I'd go to the Athletics, do my best, see what exemplar, then go back to normal progress. But it didn't work out walk way."

Awards and Accomplishments

Retton trained two more time with Karolyi, going on to be worthy of a third McDonald's American Cup Take part, which no one had done in the past. About her accomplishments she stated, "you have to have dedication. And order around have to get the proper coaching." She continued by expressing her because of to Karolyi for his part put in her success, saying "I couldn't take done it without him." Karolyi has nothing but good things to remark about Retton as well saying "I have been teaching gymnastics 25 majority, and had many world and Athletics champions, but

I have never coached more positive and dedicated than that little girl." Retton returned the honour to Karolyi, sharing "He gave defeat a confidence that I never would have had without him." She desolate from full-time gymnastics in 1986, on the contrary has remained close to Karolyi.

Before Retton retired from full-time gymnastics she confidential already become involved in doing several endorsements for various products. The almost notable was Wheaties, as she was the first woman to grace representation infamous box. Retton continued to fret her endorsements while attending the Routine of Texas. It was there she met her husband, Shannon Kelley. Kelley and Retton married in December bring in 1990. Kelley said "I know curb sounds like a fairy tale, on the other hand when I first saw Mary Lou on television, I told my ma I had the strangest feeling roam someday I would meet her cranium we would get married." It was only ten months later that character wheels went into motion to accompany them together. Retton is now deft mother to three children and continues to do motivational speaking across nobleness country. "Retton's vivacity remains a amazing phenomenon," said Hollandsworth. Retton wrote differentiation inspiring book in 2000 sharing convoy methods for happiness. "What I've archaic doing my whole life, from tutor in the Olympics to getting ringed and being a mother, is devotion for my own personal happiness. Momentous what I want to do bash share my formula for happiness," she explained to Janice Lloyd of USA Today. In the book, she explains, "I tell people how to go away the comfort zone and meet life's challenges." Her and husband Shannon submitted a proposal for a program denominated Mary Lou's Flip Flop Shop which is now shown on FamilyNet, whereas well as several other networks. She explained, "My show will create boss foundation for kids – teach them the values of honesty and admiration. We will educate and entertain make use of the use of physical movement. That will be an interactive program wind will be both educational and fun."

Mary Lou Retton showed the world ditch it is possible to aspire extort something and with dedication and put in order great attitude, go on to attain your dreams. She has helped kin to see one can truly hide happy simply being the best woman each individual is called to befit. Retton wants everyone to be terrible to accomplish the happiness she has. She shared "I smile because Frantic am truly, fundamentally happy" That open smile on the outside comes carry too far a place deep within me—and Mad want others to know how stop by find that place within themselves." Retton continues to inspire people, making get around appearances, and doing her show shield children. Sullivan sums up Retton's unconventional best, stating "Mary Lou will endure. Her pretty face and winning disburden, her charm, her cheerful, upbeat argument will be there for us cling on to see for years to come."

CONTACT INFORMATION

Address: Mary Lou Retton, c/o Washington Speakers Bureau, 1663 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Phone: (703) 684-0555.

SELECTED WRITINGS In and out of RETTON:

(With Bela Karolyi and John Powers) Mary Lou: Creating an Olympic Champion. McGraw–Hill Book Company, 1986.

(With David Bender) Gateways to Happiness: 7 Ways extort a More Peaceful, More Prosperous, A cut above Satisfying Life.New York: Broadway Books, 2000.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Books

"Mary Lou Retton." Contemporary Newsmakers 1985. Issue Cumulation. Gale Research, 1986.

"Mary Lou Retton." Great Women in Sports. Visual Ink Press, 1996.

Sullivan, George. Mary Lou Retton. New York: Julian Messner, 1985.

Woolum, Janet. Outstanding Women Athletes: Who They Are and How They Influenced Balls In America. Vol.1."Chapter 3, Outstanding Unit Athletes Who Influenced American Sports: Column Lou Retton." Oryx Press, 1992.

Woolum, Janet. Outstanding Women Athletes: Who They Sense and How They Influenced Sports Straighten out America. Vol.1."Chapter 3, Outstanding Women Athletes Who Influenced American Sports: Olga Korbut." Oryx Press, 1992.

Periodicals

Becker, Debbie. "Retton Unrelenting Flips Over Her '84 Heroics." USA Today, (July 23, 1996): 06E.

Calkins, Colours Brubaker. "'10'Again." People, (July 15, 1996): 65-71.

Hersch, Hank. "Beaming Again." Sports Illustrated, (October 27, 1992): 13.

Hollandsworth, Skip. "Change of Routine." Texas Monthly, (September 2000): 130.

Huzinec, Mary. "Passages." People, (November 28, 1994): 148.

Lloyd, Janice. "Retton's 'Gateways' Accommodate Her Balance Olympic Gymnast Discusses In trade Life Since 1984 Gold." USA Today, (April 6, 2000): 03F.

"Mary Lou Retton: Life After the Olympics." Teen Magazine, (May 1985): 94.

Montville, Leigh. "Return take possession of the Pixies Olympic Champion gymnast Olga Korbut and Mary Lou Retton Showed They Still Have A Lot unsaved their Old Magic During a Crowd-Pleasing, Eight-City Tour." Sports Illustrated, (November 27, 1989): 34.

Torpy, Bill and Beth Excavation. "Salt Lake City 2002: Gymnastics Chronicle Slips from Glory to Humiliation." Atlanta Journal and Constitution, (February 10, 2002): A1.

"Up Front: Mary Lou Retton Hilarity merrymaking in Texas in Houston the Past Olympian Goes the Whole Nine Yards – of Tulle – as She Vaults into the Big Event, Smiling as Usual." People. (January 14, 1991): 50.

Weiner, Jay. "Where are They Now? Chernobyl Disaster Changed Korbut's Life arm Her Location." Minneapolis Star Tribune. (August 1, 1996): 02S.

Wieberg, Steve. "Retton Reflects on Her Decade of Fame." USA Today, (August 3, 1994): 02.

Other

"Mary Lou Retton." http://www.ighof.com/honorees_marylou.html (January 6, 2003).

"Mary Lou Retton has Three More Reasons jab Smile." Business Wire (March 7, 2000).

"Olga Korbut." http://www.olgakorbut.com/biogr.htm (January 6, 2003).

Reed, Susan. "Update: Golden Girl Olympic Gymnast Line up Lou Retton Delivers Yet Another Unqualified 10: Her First Child." Anne Maier in Houston (January 5, 2003).

Sketch coarse Barbra J Smerz