Mary Lou Retton

She was a pint-sized gymnast from West Virginia who overcame injury and odds to capture the hearts of Americans. Mary Lou Retton in 1984 did what no other woman in the history of U.S. gymnastics had ever done: she won a medal -- a gold medal. Her victory came in the women's all-around competition, overcoming fierce competition to secure her place in history. She achieved perfect scores in her final two events to win a dramatic victory in the combined exercises. As a member of the Silver Medalist Team from the U.S., she also won an individual Silver Medal in the vault, as well as Bronze Medals in the uneven bars and floor exercise. Her five medals were the most won by any athlete at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Mary Lou's historic Olympic performances, along with her radiant smile and enthusiasm, brought her recognition as Sports Illustrated Magazine's "Sportswoman of the Year" in 1984. That same year, the Associated Press awarded her the title "Amateur Athlete of the Year". She was the first gymnast, and the youngest person to be inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 1985. In 1993, almost a decade after her Los Angeles triumph, an Associated Press national survey named her the "Most Popular Athlete in America."

Mary Lou's smile became known worldwide as she became the first woman to appear in Wheaties commercials and endorsed products ranging from hamburgers to perfumes. Since then she has become one of the country's most popular motivational speakers. In her book, Mary Lou Retton's Gateways to Happiness, she shares her secrets for achieving a balanced, fulfilling career and life and presents seven gateways that can guide you in cultivating lasting happiness every day.

The 1995 recipient of the Flo Hyman Award for athletic excellence, she has been a regular commentator on network television as well as a columnist for USA Today during the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics.

Mary Lou lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Shannon Kelley, and their two daughters.

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