Mary Lou Retton is an iconic figure not just in gymnastics history but also in the worlds of business, publishing, and product endorsements. Retton is an American hero whose life has been marked by acclaim, hardship, and perseverance.
Mary Lou Retton Net Worth
Former American gymnast Mary Lou Retton is worth $2 million after retiring from the sport. Mary Lou Retton took first place in the 1984 Summer Olympics in the all-around category for women. She made history by being the first American woman to win a gymnastics gold medal at the Olympics.
Mary Lou was behind the leader, the Romanian Ecaterina Szabo, by only five-hundredths of a point in one of the most tense moments in sports history. Mary Lou would have to score a perfect 10 on the vault to beat the competition.
To everyone’s surprise, she got a perfect score of 10, making her an overnight superstar throughout the globe. She finished the Games with five medals: the gold, two silvers, and two bronzes stated above.
Who is Mary Lou Retton Married?
Retton continued her education after retiring from gymnastics by enrolling at The University of Texas in Austin. Retton returned to West Virginia from Houston, Texas in 2009.
After graduating from UT in 2012, she returned back to Houston and married real estate entrepreneur and UT quarterback Shannon Kelley. Shayla, McKenna, Skyla, and Emma were their four daughters. They officially ended their marriage this year (2018).
The Many Roles of Mary Lou Retton: Athlete, Spokesperson, Patriot
Retton’s sponsorship deals piled up after she retired from gymnastics. Later, she became a spokesperson for the American pharmacy chain Revco after appearing on the Wheaties box. Retton also became a vocal supporter of the Reagan administration, making appearances in several television commercials endorsing Reagan for the presidency.
She accompanied him to a rally in support of his reelection bid as well. For many years later, she also stayed active in conservative politics. On the second evening of the Republican National Convention in 2004, she and fellow former gymnast Kerri Strug said the Pledge of Allegiance.
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