How old is mary lou on dancing with the stars
Olympics, Net Worth & Kids
Mary Lou Retton, best known as MLR, is a former gymnast from the United States of America. She is quite famous as an athlete for her outstanding performances. Furthermore, she is a gold medalist and won her first gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics.
Moreover, she was the first woman in America to win an independent gold medal in gymnastics.
She also won two silver and bronze medals that same summer. Besides that, she is quite outspoken politically. The gymnast publicly supported President Ronald Reagan.
Lou is one of the most famous gymnasts and has received several opportunities because of it. Mary appeared in several commercials for well-known companies and industries.
As a result, its sales increased drastically. She has also made appearances in movies and television series.
The athlete received several criticisms and bad press for standing against a bill that protects young children from sexual predators. Many have called MLR out for standing against other reforms in the USA Gymnastics.
Before getting into details about the American gymnasts’ life and career, here are some quick facts about her.
Mary Lou Retton | Early Life, Family, And Education
Mary Lou Retton was born in Fairmont, West Virginia, the United States. Her parents are Ronnie Retton and Lois Retton.
Furthermore, her father was a former collegiate basketball player. He also played professional basketball in a minor league.
Both of MLR’s parents were active and very enthusiastic about sports and physical activities.
Hence, she took dance classes when she was only four years old. Then she enrolled in gymnastic classes with her sister Shari Retton. Besides that, Mary is the youngest of five children.
The former athlete was hard working and very excited about gymnastics. In fact, she used to sleep in her gym attire the night before her classes at West Virginia University.
Similarly, she was inspired by legendary gymnasts such as Olga Korbut and Nadia Comăneci.
When she saw them perform on television, she knew she wanted to be a gymnast and win gold medals.
As a result, Retton committed to gymnastics and trained under famous gymnastics coach Béla Károlyi. He has trained many Olympic champions.
Moreover, he has been inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame.
Although he is known for his tough-love coaching style, he got gentle when he arrived in American. She thrived under the Romanian-American coach and continuously explored her potential.
Retton attended Fairmont Senior High School. However, she did not graduate, as she was more focused on gymnastics.
The gold medalist moved to Houston, Texas, to train at the Károlyi Gym. Aside from that, she briefly attended the University of Texas after retiring from gymnastics.
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Mary Lou Retton | Age, Height, And Weight
The former gymnast turned 53 years old on January 24, 2021. As a former athlete, she takes great care of her health and diet. Hence, despite being in her 50s, she is very fit. She is 4 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 93 lb, i.e., 42 kg.
Mary Close-Up Look
When describing her physical appearance, she has got Brown hair color with Dark Brown pair of eyes. Unfortunately, her body measurement, shoes, tattoos (if any) is unavailable at the moment.
Young Mary
Mary belongs to American nationality with Italian American ethnicity and follows Christian religion.
Mary Lou Retton | Gymnastics Career
Initial Career
The former athlete started her training towards becoming a star gymnast when she was only eight years old. Her mother enrolled her at the University of West Virginia to channel her child’s hyperactive energy. Little did Lois knew, Mary would grow up to pursue it as a career.
Initially, she trained under Gary Rafaloski in her hometown. However, she felt like she could train better, so she moved to Houston, Texas. Retton trained under Béla and his wife, Márta Károlyi. She improved as an overall gymnast under Béla Károlyi’s coaching.
At 15 years old, she won the American Cup and ranked second in the US Nationals.
She also won the Cup, Nationals, and US Olympic Trials the following year. Moreover, the gymnast was the winner of the 1983 and 1984 American Classic and Japan’s 1983 Chunichi Cup.
Mary Performing Gymnastics
Before the 1984 Summer Olympics, she underwent knee surgery to treat her leg injury. Although she was afraid she might miss the Olympics, the gymnast recovered in time. In the first Summer Olympics held in America since 1932, MLR won her first gold medal.
Mary with Medals
Furthermore, she became the first American woman to win an all-around gold medal.
She performed an ankle vault and for the final vault she beautifully performed the very difficult Tsukahara vault. On top of that, America’s Sweetheart also won two silver and bronze medals in the Summer Olympics. Popular sports magazine, Sports Illustrated, named her “Sportswoman of the Year.”
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Post Gymnastic Career
After winning her third and final American Cup all-around competition in 1985, Mary retired in 1986. Thereafter, she had a little bit of experience in movies and television.
Retton appeared in the comedy movie Scrooged, popular TV series like Glee and Baywatch. Furthermore, she was a contestant in Dancing With The Stars in 2018.
She also had a children’s series called Mary Lou’s Flip Flop. Besides that, she utilized her time to support President Ronald Reagan’s re-election. She was also a part of the 2004 Republican National Convention.
USAG Abuse Scandal
The former athlete’s name was juggled quite a bit in 2017 when the USAG’s sex abuse scandal was all over the news. Numerous female athletes accused gym owners, coaches, and staff of sexually abusing them.
It is one of the largest sex abuse scandals in the history of sports. The biggest face of the scandal was former osteopathic physician Larry Nassar. Furthermore, he is accused of abusing over 250 women.
Most of the women were minors at the time of the abuse.
1984 Gold Medalist Marry Lou Retton
As a result of his actions, the USAG received many lawsuits to ignore complaints, cover-up, and enable Nassar. Many people called for reforms and proper laws in the gymnastics governing body of the United States.
Hence, Senators Dianne Feinstein and John Thune sponsored a bill. It was called the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization of 2017 bill.
The bill protects young athletes from sexual abuse. Moreover, it also and promotes a safe environment for their growth.
Along with the USAG, Mary met with Senator Feinstein to convince her not to pass the bill. Subsequently, she was heavily criticized for supporting the organization instead of the abuse survivors.
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Mary Lou Retton | Marriage And Kids
Husband And His Career
The former athlete was married to Shannon Kelley. They met at the University of Texas. Hence, the two are college sweethearts.
Kelley is a former collegiate football player who played for the Texas Longhorns. Moreover, he served as a starting quarterback for the team.
He was an outstanding player for the Longhorns. Correspondingly, he received attention and recognition for his football skills.
However, the athlete did not pursue a football career and graduated with a business degree from Texas.
Mary Lou Retton With Her Former Husband Shannon Kelley
He also got a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of St. Thomas.
Thereafter, the former Longhorn became a partner at an investment firm and was pretty successful at it. Furthermore, he was a well-established real estate developer in Houston.
Nevertheless, his love for football pulled him back into the game. So, Shannon became a quarterback coach in 2009 for Fairmont State University.
Then he joined California University in 2011 to be their running backs coach. Since 2012, the former QB has been serving as an assistant coach for Houston Baptist University.
Marriage, Divorce, and Kids
Mary Lou was only 21 years old when she got engaged to her former husband. The two got engaged in 1989 and married shortly after. Furthermore, they were married for 28 years before they got divorced in February of 2018.
Besides that, the former pair have four daughters. Their names are Shayla, McKenna, Skyla, and Emma Kelley.
The former gymnast enrolled all of her daughters into gymnastics when they were young. Nonetheless, only three of them stuck with it while Skyla became a cheerleader.
Former Gymnast Mary Lou Retton With Her Ex-Husband And Four Daughters
MLR’s oldest daughter Shayla did Acrobatics and Tumbling at Baylor University. Moreover, she qualified for many NCATA Individual Championship events.
Likewise, Retton’s second-oldest daughter, McKenna, is a Level 10 gymnast who won the 2014 Nastia Liukin Cup.
Mary Lou Retton | Net Worth And Salary
The former athlete has built an impressive wealth amount as a star gymnast.
Retton’s net worth is over $8 million. Moreover, the gymnast was shot to stardom after her iconic win in the 1984 Summer Olympics. As a result, she was endorsed by well-known brands and companies.
She was the first female athlete to make it to the front of the Wheaties Box. The gold medalist also served as a spokesperson for drugstore chain Revco and pain relief cream Australian Dream.
Furthermore, she did commercials for them. Besides that, she appeared in ads for other brands and industries as well. Mary made cameos in several movies and TV shows. She was also a gymnastic analyst.
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Mary Lou Retton | Social Media Presence
The gold medalist is quite active on social media platforms. Hence, she has an Instagram account with 65 thousand followers.
She usually shares photos of herself and her children. MLR recently bid farewell to her youngest child, Skyla, who was off to college.
Besides that, she congratulated her oldest daughter, Shyla, on her engagement. The mother of four also got her new baby, a golden retriever named Honey. Furthermore, she is on Twitter with 29 thousand followers. The former athlete joined in 2011.
However, she is relatively less active on Twitter as she hasn’t posted anything new since 2018.
Nevertheless, she has shared many videos and photos of her children through her account. She has also shared many gymnastics-related news.
Common Queries:
What disease does Mary Lou Retton have?
MLR does not have a disease. However, she was born with an abnormality in her hip joint called hip dysplasia. Due to this abnormality, she has an increased risk of joint dislocation.
The condition only grew worse as she became a competitive gymnast. As a result, she underwent hip replacement surgery on her left hip.
Was Mary Lou Retton in Star Wars?
No, the former Olympian was not in Star Wars.
How much is Mary Lou Retton worth?
Mary Lou Retton’s net worth is over $8 million. She earned most of her wealth as a competitive gymnast. Besides that, she earned a fair amount through endorsements and sponsorships.
What was Mary Lou Retton famous for?
The former gymnast is famous for being the first American woman to win an individual all-around gold medal. She won the medal in the first Summer Olympics held in America in 52 years.
Where did Mary Lou Retton go to college?
Mary Lou went to Fairmont Senior High School but did not complete her study. She was focused more on her career than on her education.
Olympic Gold Medalist Mary Lou Retton on Being 50 But Nifty on Dancing with the Stars
Mary Lou Retton
It's been a lot of years since five-time Olympic Medalist--one gold, two silver and two bronze -- Mary Lou Retton competed as a gymnast. She retired in 1986. But the woman who was the first female athlete to be pictured on the front of a Wheaties box says her time on Dancing with the Stars is bringing back her competitive spirit and she is in it to win it.
"It’d be great," she said on the red carpet after an evening's competition. "Obviously, I’m competitive, but it’s more about the journey of this, you know? I had forgotten really who I was. I reached fame at a very young age right here in Los Angeles, almost 34 years ago. And Sasha [Farber] is helping me to remember that I am a strong, powerful woman. This is my reemergence. I really hadn’t challenged myself in decades. So, this is my time and my opportunity to come back out and let America see where I’ve been."
Mary Lou Retton and Sasha Farber
Where Mary Lou has been is raising four daughters -- Shayla, 23; McKenna, 21, a current NCAA gymnast at Louisiana State University; Skyla, 18; and Emma, 16 -- with husband/real estate developer Shannon Kelley.
"I just wanted to make them proud," says Mary Lou of her family who has been in the audience. "This is such a fun journey and Sasha’s an incredible teacher. He’s patient with me. I tend to be hard on myself and I just want to lighten up and enjoy this whole thing. I want to be present when I’m out there and hear the beats and the music."
Of course, Mary Lou, who has lost a lot of weight since she began dancing, didn't enter the competition without checking in with some of her fellow gymnasts, who have also competed, including Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson, asking them, “What have I done? What have I gotten myself into?”
"They both said, 'Just enjoy it. Just have fun,'” Mary Lou says, "and that’s what I have to do. I have to lighten up. I tend to be hard on myself."
Mary Lou's predecessors on DWTS -- Nastia, Shawn, Laurie Hernandez and Simone Biles -- all have a great track record on the show, but they were all younger than her when they competed.
"I’m a little bit sore," Mary Lou admits. "I have a lot of old injuries so I have to be careful. I told Sasha we have to pace this nifty, but 50 old lady out here."
https://parade.com/708939/paulettecohn/dancing-with-the-stars-john-schneider-on-the-heartbreak-of-loss-and-finding-love/
One of the challenges for Mary Lou has been the fact that she is short and doesn't really have the long lines of a dancer, but she has pledged to do the best that she can with the body God gave her.
"I am pretty beat up," she says. "I’ve had just over 20 orthopedic operations to my hips, back and neck, so we have to train smart and Sasha knows that. I told him from the beginning. Also, I’m not used to high heel shoes and they put my whole body at a different angle that is not really good for the health of the hardware that I have, so it’s been interesting."
Dancing with the Stars airs Monday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
Mary Lou Retton [2021 Update]: Olympics, net worth and kids
gymnast
Mary Lou Retton, better known as MLR, is a former gymnast from the United States of America. As an athlete, she is known for her outstanding performances. In addition, she is a gold medalist and won her first gold at 1984 Summer Olympics .
Moreover, she was the first woman in America to win an independent gold medal in gymnastics.
In the same summer she won two silver and bronze medals. In addition, she is quite outspoken politically. The gymnast publicly supported President Ronald Reagan.
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Mary Lou Retton dances with Sasha Farber on Dancing with the Stars
Lou is one of the most famous gymnasts and got several opportunities thanks to her. Mary has appeared in several commercials for well-known companies and industries.
As a result, his sales skyrocketed. She has also acted in films and television series.
The sportsman has received several criticisms and bad press for speaking out against a bill that would protect young children from sexual predators. Many called on the MLR to oppose other reforms in Gymnastics USA .
Before getting into the details of the American gymnast's life and career, here are some facts about her.
Quick Facts
Full name | Mary Lu Retton |
Birthday | January 24, 1968 |
Religion | Christian |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | Italian American In addition, her father was a former college basketball player. He also played professional basketball in the minor leagues. Both MLR parents were active and very enthusiastic about sports and physical activity. So she went to dance lessons when she was only four years old. She then enrolled in gymnastics classes along with her sister Shari Retton. In addition, Mary is the youngest of five children. The former athlete worked hard and was very fond of gymnastics. In fact, she slept in sportswear on the eve of classes at West Virginia University . In the same way, she was inspired by legendary gymnasts such as Olga Korbut and Nadia Comaneci. When she saw their performance on TV, she realized that she wanted to become a gymnast and win gold medals. As a result, Retton took up gymnastics and trained under the guidance of the famous gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi. He has coached many Olympic champions. Moreover, he was inducted International Gymnastics Hall of Fame . Although known for his tough coaching style, he became soft when he came to America. She excelled under the guidance of a Romanian-American coach and constantly developed her potential. Retton attended Fairmont Senior High School . However, she did not finish school, as she was more involved in gymnastics. Gold medalist moved to Houston, Texas to train at Károlyi Gym . Additionally, she briefly attended University of Texas after retiring from gymnastics. You may be interested in Olympic and World Champions, Peggy Fleming's Biography: Olympic Games, Net Worth, Trophy & Husband >> Mary Lou Retton | Age, height and weightFormer gymnast turned 53 years on January 24, 2021 As a former athlete, she is very concerned about her health and nutrition. Therefore, despite the fact that it has 50s, she is very fit. She is 4 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 93 pounds, i.e. 42 kg.
close-up of Mary When describing her appearance she is brown hair color with Dark brown a pair of eyes. Unfortunately, measurements of her body, shoes, tattoos (if any) are not available at the moment.
Young Mary Mary belongs American nationality with Italian American ethnicity and followed by Christian religion. Mary Lou Retton | Career in gymnasticsEarly careerThe former athlete started training to become a star gymnast when she was only eight years old. The mother enrolled her at West Virginia University to channel her child's hyperactive energy. Little did Lois know, Mary would grow up and make a career. She originally trained with Gary Rafaloski in her hometown. However, she felt she could train better, so she moved to Houston, Texas. Retton trained under Bela and his wife Marta Karolyi. Under Béla Károlyi, she improved as a gymnast overall. At fifteen years old, she won American Cup and finished second in US Citizens . She also won the Cup, National Championships and US Olympic Trials next year. Moreover, the gymnast became the winner of American Classic 1983 and 1984 and Japan Chunichi Cup 1983 .
Maria does gymnastics Before 1984 Summer Olympics , she had knee surgery. Although she was afraid to miss the Olympics, the gymnast recovered in time. First Summer Olympic Games held in America since 1932, MLR won her first gold medal.
Mary with medals In addition, she became the first American woman to win a gold medal in the all-around. On top of that, America's Sweetheart also won two silver and bronze medals in the Summer Olympics. The popular sports magazine, Sports Illustrated named her Sportswoman of the Year . Learn more about the two-time Olympic champion, Ekaterina Gordeeva Biography: Daughters, wealth and husband >> Post-gymnastics careerAfter winning the third and last American Cup all-around in 1985, Mary retired in 19086 69 she had little experience in film and television. Retton starred in the comedy Scrooge, popular series like Glee and Baywatch. In addition, she was a member of Dancing With The Stars in 2018. She also had a children's series called Mary Lou's Flip Flops . She also used her time to support the re-election of President Ronald Reagan. She was also part of the 2004 Republican National Convention . USAG abuse scandalThe name of the former athlete is a lot of juggling. 2017 when USAG The sexual assault scandal was all over the news. Many female athletes have accused gym owners, coaches and staff of sexual abuse. This is one of the biggest sexual abuse scandals in sports history. The biggest face of the scandal was former osteopath Larry Nassar. In addition, he is accused of abusing 250 women. Most of the women were minors at the time of the violence.
Gold medalist 1984, married to Lou Retton As a result of his actions one received many lawsuits to ignore complaints, cover up and let Nassar. Many people called for reforms and appropriate laws in the US gymnastics governing body. Therefore, Senators Dianne Feinstein and John Thune sponsored the bill. It was called Protection of Young Victims from Sexual Assault and Safe Sports Authorization of 2017 bill. The bill protects young athletes from sexual abuse. Moreover, it also contributes to creating a safe environment for their growth. With USAG, Mary met with Senator Feinstein to convince her not to pass the law. Subsequently, she was heavily criticized for her support of the organization, and not for survivors of violence. Don't forget to check out the gymnast, MyKayla Skinner's biography: early life, career, love and fortune >> Mary Lou Retton | Marriage and childrenHusband and his careerThe former athlete was married to Shannon Kelly. They met at University of Texas . Hence, the two are college crushes. Kelly - Former collegiate football player who played for the Texas Longhorns . Moreover, he served as the team's starting quarterback. He was an outstanding player for the Longhorns. Accordingly, he received attention and recognition for his football skills. However, the athlete did not pursue a football career and graduated from Texas with a degree in business.
Mary Lou Retton with ex-husband Shannon Kelly He also received a master's degree in Business Administration from St. Thomas University . After that, the former Longhorn became a partner in an investment firm and was very successful in doing so. In addition, he was a well-established real estate developer in Houston. However, his love for football brought him back into the game. So Shannon became quarterback coach in for Fairmont State University . He then joined University of California in in 2011 to be their running coach. From 2012, former QB served as an assistant coach at Houston Baptist University . Marriage, divorce and childrenMary Lou was only 21 years when she became engaged to her ex-husband. The two got engaged 1989 and soon got married. In addition, they were married to 28 years years before they divorced in February 2018. In addition, the former couple has four daughters. Their names are Sheila, McKenna, Skyla and Emma Kelly. A former gymnast enrolled all her daughters in gymnastics when they were little. However, only three of them stayed in it while Skyla became a cheerleader.
Former gymnast Mary Lou Retton with ex-husband and four daughters MLR's eldest daughter Shyla was an acrobatics and acrobatics student at Baylor University . What's more, she has passed many NCATA Individual Championship Events. how long Peyton Manning has been playing football Similarly, Retton's second oldest daughter, McKenna, Level 10 gymnast who won the 2014 Nastya Lyukina Cup . Mary Lou Retton | Net Worth & SalaryThe former athlete made an impressive fortune as a star gymnast. Retton's net worth ended $8 million . Moreover, the gymnast became a star after her iconic victory in 1984 Summer Olympics . As a result, she was endorsed by well-known brands and companies. She was the first athlete to come to the fore. Box of Wheat . The gold medalist was also a representative of a chain of pharmacies. Revco and pain relief cream Australian Dream . She also filmed commercials for them. In addition, she has appeared in commercials for other brands and industries. Mary has appeared in several films and TV series. She was also a gymnastic analyst. Learn more about Jenn Brown: early life, career, husband and statistics >> Mary Lou Retton | Presence in social networksThe gold medalist is quite active in social networks. Hence, she has an Instagram account with 65 thousand followers. She usually shares pictures of herself and her children. MLR recently said goodbye to her youngest child, Skyla, who was about to attend college. She also congratulated her eldest daughter Shilo on her engagement. The mother of four also gave birth to a newborn golden retriever named Honey. Also, she's been on Twitter since 29 thousand followers. Former athlete joined 2011 However, she is relatively less active on Twitter as she hasn't posted anything new since. 2018. However, through her account, she shared many videos and photos of her children. She also shared many news related to gymnastics. General Inquiries:What disease does Mary Lou Retton have?MLR has no disease. However, she was born with an abnormality of the hip joint called hip dysplasia. Because of this anomaly, she has an increased risk of dislocation of the joint. The condition only worsened when she became a competitive gymnast. As a result, she underwent hip replacement surgery on her left thigh. How much is Mary Lou Retton worth?Mary Lou Retton's net worth ended $8 million . She made most of her fortune as a competitive gymnast. In addition, she has earned a decent amount through endorsements and sponsorships. What was Mary Lou Retton famous for?The former gymnast is known as the first American woman to win a gold medal in the individual all-around. She won a medal in the first Summer Olympic Games held in America in 52 years. Where did Mary Lou Retton go to college?Mary Lou went to Fairmont High School but did not graduate. She was more focused on her career than her education. What is Mary Lou Retton's net worth and how much was she paid for Dancing with the Stars?Entertainment More than 30 years have passed since Mary Lou Retton rose to fame at the 1984 Olympics. At 16, she became the first American woman to win gold in the all-around; She also won two silver and two bronze medals in the competition. After two years, she left gymnastics, but did not slip out of sight. Find out more about what Mary Lou Retton has been doing since winning Olympic gold and how much she's worth today. Mary Lou Retton's post-Olympic careerMary Lou Retton in 1989. Ken Levine / Allsport After a big win at the Los Angeles Olympics (she took home five medals), Retton became a hot commodity. She became the first woman to appear on the front of a wheat box and was named Sportswoman of the Year. Sports Illustrated. She won the all-around America's Cup in 1985 before officially retiring from the sport in 1986. In 1985, she starred in ABC's Fun Fit, a series of short exercise videos for children aired during cartoons on Saturday mornings. She has also acted in episodic films. Scrooge and Naked Gun 33 1/3, and in TV shows like Landing Knots and Baywatch. Retton has also served as a broadcaster for gymnastics competitions, including the 1988 and 1996 Olympics, and has written a gymnastics column for USA Today. She has appeared in commercials for RadioShack and the now-defunct drugstore chain Revco and has written a book called The Gateway to Happiness by Mary Lou Retton: 7 Ways to a Quieter, More Prosperous, and More Enjoyable Life. how old was Dan Marino when he retired Retton is currently available to speak through the Washington Speakers Bureau. She charges between $25,001 and $40,000 to perform. What She Was Paid ForDancing With The StarsMary Lou Retton and Sasha Farber Perform Disney Night at Dancing with the Stars | Eric McCandless / ABC In 2018, 50-year-old Retton joined the cast of Dancing With the Stars. She was paired with Sasha Farber. Although Retton and Farber were the fifth couple to be eliminated from season 27, she said she was pleased with her performance on the show, although she did not take home the Mirrorball trophy. how long has Terry Bradshaw been married "I haven't challenged myself in decades," Retton said, "And I've challenged myself so I can start over." Famous dancers such as Retton reportedly paid $125,000 to register to appear on DWTS. (This is a 2010 number; salaries could now be higher.) The longer they stay, the more they earn, and stars who appear in episodes 3 and 4 earn an extra $10,000 per episode. Those who get into subsequent episodes will receive an additional $20,000 to $30,000. Retton made it to episode 8, which means she could have made another $100,000 on top of her original paycheck. Net Worth of Mary Lou RettonMary Lou Retton is worth $8 million today. Celebrity Net Worth. . |