Photo: US Health and Human Services. No specific photo credit is given by the source. / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Mary Lou Retton remains, for me, the purest image of athletic courage. Standing just 145 cm, she landed that perfect-10 vault at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and won all-around gold, becoming a national hero overnight. What I love is the lesson she embodies: explosive power and nerve have nothing to do with size. Sports Illustrated named her Sportswoman of the Year, and the Hall of Fame followed, but the enduring image is that fearless grin before the run-up. She convinced a generation that heart, not height, decides the medal. That kind of inspiration never expires.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Mary Lou Retton
- Name (Japanese)
- メアリー・ルー・レットン
- Reading
- めありー・るー・れっとん
- Born
- January 24, 1968 (age 58)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aquarius / Monkey
- Origin
- Fairmont, West Virginia, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- 145 cm
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- artistic gymnast
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Fairmont Senior High School
- University
- University of Texas at Austin
Awards & achievements
- 1984 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year
- 1984 Associated Press Athlete of the Year
- 1997 International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Mary Lou Retton born?
Born January 24, 1968 (age 58).
Where is Mary Lou Retton from?
Mary Lou Retton is from Fairmont, West Virginia, United States.
What does Mary Lou Retton do?
Mary Lou Retton works as artistic gymnast.
How tall is Mary Lou Retton?
Mary Lou Retton is 145 cm.
Artistic gymnast — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-16
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.