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Mary Lou Retton
- The first female American gymnast to win the gold medal in the all-around competition at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles
- Won five medals at the '84 Games (all-around - gold, vault - silver, floor exercise and uneven bars - bronze; she also earned a silver in the team competition
- Inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1985
- Was named Amateur Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press in 1984
- Winner of three consecutive American Cups (1983-85)
- At the age of seven she enrolled in a gymnastics class for children at West Virginia University
- Coached by the famed Bela Karolyi
- Clinched her all-around gold in 1984 by scoring perfect 10’s in the floor exercise and vault
- Entered the "Wheaties Hall of Champions" in 1984
- An Associated Press national survey in 1993 named her the "Most Popular Athlete in America"
- In 1994 the U.S. Olympic Committee established the Mary Lou Retton Award for athletic excellence
- Retton won the Flo Hyman Award in 1995 from the Women's Sports Foundation for her accomplishments
- Enjoys roller-blading and skiing
Soon after her retirement from competitive gymnastics, Retton pursued a career as a motivational speaker and an actor. She was in such movies as "Scrooged" and "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult." She also served as a television analyst at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
Related Links:
Feature: USOC honors 2004's top athletes
Q&A: With gymnastics legend Mary Lou Retton
Photo gallery: Gymnast Mary Lou Retton
"As simple as it sounds, we all must try to be the best person we can: by making the best choices, by making the most of the talents we've been given."
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Height: 4' 9"
Born: 24-Jan-68
Hometown: Fairmont, W. Va.
Resides: Houston, Texas
Sport: Gymnastics
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