Mary Lou Retton was born on the 24th January 1968 in Fairmont, West Virginia, USA of Italian American descent and is a former gymnast. She represented her native country at the Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles, USA in 1984. There, she became the first non – Eastern European gymnast who won a gold Olympic medal in the individual all-around competition. What is more, she was also the first American gymnast who won this medal. Furthermore, after winning 5 medals overall she became the athlete who has taken home the biggest number of Olympic medals (1 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals). Retton retired from the professional sport in 1985.
How much is the net worth of Mary Lou Retton? It has been reported that the outright size of her wealth is as much as $5.8 million, as of the data presented in 2016. Gymnastics is the main source of Retton net worth and fame.
Mary Lou Retton Net Worth $5.8 Million
To begin with, the girl was raised in Fairmont, West Virginia. She was educated at Fairmont Senior High School, yet she did not graduate. It was Nadia Comaneci who inspires Mary to take up gymnastics. Retton was trained by Béla Károlyi and Márta Károlyi. She began to make herself known in the USA scene in 1983, but missed the world championships (1983) because of a wrist injury. It was thought that a knee injury which she suffered just before the Olympic Summer Games in 1984, could possibly reduce the performance of the gymnast. However, Retton managed to achieve great results in the Olympics held in the USA. It should be noted that Mary Lou not only became a famous athlete but also significantly increased her net worth. Because of the great performance in the Olympic Games, she was named the sportswoman of the year by Sports Illustrated magazine in 1984. Furthermore, a street and a park were named after her in the hometown Fairmont in 1990. Mary Lou Retton stood in the top 10 of the most admired public figures and she was inducted in the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997.
Moreover, Retton was the first gymnast who performed so called “The Retton Flip” the element which is performed on the uneven bars. It is a giant swing in which the gymnast (with the hips tantamount) lies in wait and then this resistance is used to prosecute her exercise in the other direction and after a somersault to sit on the high shelf. After the retirement, Retton appeared in several television commercials, television series (including “Mary Lou’s Flip Flop Shop”) and the film “Scrooged” and “Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult” . She also wrote a book. Mary is involved in several charities as well as is the motivational speaker and often gives the commentary at gymnastics competitions.
Finally, the personal life of the former gymnast, Retton is married to American Football quarterback Shannon Kelley and they have four daughters. Currently, the family resides in Houston (since 2012).
Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year (1984), Associated Press Athlete of the Year (1984), American Cup (1983, winner),1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles (gold medal), American Cup all around competition (1985)
Nominations
"Sportswoman of the Year" (Sports Illustrated magazine, 1984)
Movies
"Scrooged", "Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult" (1985),"Baywatch: The Child Inside" (1993)
Retton's family changed their name from Rotundo to Retton upon their arrival at Ellis Island. Retton is proud of her Italian heritage.
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Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year 1984
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Her fourth daughter with husband Shannon Kelley was born in Houston, Texas. She was named Emma. Her other three daughters are Shayla Rae (born 1995), McKenna Lane (born 1997) and Skyla Brae Kelley (born August 2000). [2002]
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Named "Most Popular Athlete in America" in 1993 by an Associated Press national survey
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Named Associated Press' "Amateur Athlete of the Year" in 1984
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Named Sports Illustrated Magazine's "Sportswoman of the Year" in 1984
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Inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997
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Appeared on the Wheaties box in Summer 1984
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Inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1985
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1984 Olympic gymnastics medal winner.
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Special Agent Oso
2011
TV Series
Gymnastics Coach
Flip Flop Shop
2001
TV Series
Host
The Road to Olympic Gold
1996
TV Series
Co-Host
High Risk
1988
TV Series
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Flip Flop Shop
2001
TV Series co-executive producer
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Today
2008
TV Series
Herself
Beijing 2008: Games of the XXIX Olympiad
2008
TV Mini-Series
Herself
Access Hollywood
2008
TV Series
Herself
USA Gymnastics: Behind the Team
2007
TV Series documentary
Herself
Identity
2007
TV Series
Herself - Stranger
ESPN 25: Who's #1?
2006
TV Series documentary
Herself
OAB: A Guide for Women
2005
TV Movie
Herself - Spokesperson
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2004
TV Series
Herself
E! True Hollywood Story
2004
TV Series documentary
Herself
I Love the '80s Strikes Back
2003
TV Series documentary
Herself
Pyramid
2002
TV Series
Herself
ESPN SportsCentury
2002
TV Series documentary
Herself
Weakest Link
2002
TV Series
Herself
Buddy Faro
1998
TV Series
Herself
Hollywood Salutes Arnold Schwarzenegger: An American Cinematheque Tribute
1998
TV Special
Herself
Wide World of Sports 35th Anniversary Special
1996
TV Movie documentary
Herself
American Sportswomen
1995
TV Special
Herself - Host
Dream On
1994
TV Series
Herself
Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult
1994
Herself
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
1994
TV Series
Herself
Baywatch
1993
TV Series
Herself
ESPN Outside the Lines Primetime
1993
TV Series
Herself
Vicki!
1993
TV Series
Herself
John & Leeza from Hollywood
1993
TV Series
Herself
One on One with John Tesh
1992
TV Series
Herself
Knots Landing
1992
TV Series
Herself
The Chuck Woolery Show
1991
TV Series
Herself
The New Hollywood Squares
1986-1989
TV Series
Herself / Herself - Panelist
Scrooged
1988
Herself
America Undercover
1986
TV Series documentary
Herself
Liberty Weekend
1986
TV Special documentary
Herself
ABC Funfit
1985
TV Series
Herself - Host
Los Angeles 1984: Games of the XXIII Olympiad
1984
TV Series
Herself
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts