Mary Lou Retton was born on January 24, 1968, in Fairmont, West Virginia, to her parents, a former basketball player, Ronnie, and Lois Retton.
Retton is a legendary American gymnast who made history as the first American woman to win an Olympic all-around gold medal in 1984.
Behind her incredibly successful career are her parents, Ronnie and Lois Retton, who have been her biggest supporters since day one.
Her parents aren’t new to the sports world, for her father, Ronnie Retton, was a talented athlete in his own right.
Ronnie Retton was a standout in basketball and baseball at West Virginia University.
As a guard on the basketball team from 1956 to 1959, he co-captained the 1959 team that reached the NCAA Championship game.
One memorable moment was his steal and layup in a 95-92 victory over St. Joseph’s during the 1959 NCAA Tournament.
In baseball, Ronnie Retton earned first-team All-Southern Conference honors as a shortstop in 1957 and 1959, with a batting average between .350 and .360.
He also played six seasons in the New York Yankees’ minor league system, reaching the Double-A level before retiring in 1964 to focus on his family.
Later, Ronnie ran a coal-industry transportation equipment business, providing a stable foundation for his family.
Ronnie passed away in November 2021 at the age of 81; however, specific details about his death remain unknown.
Lois Retton, Mary Lou’s mother, played a crucial role in nurturing her daughter’s early interest in physical activities.
Recognizing Mary Lou’s potential at a young age, Lois enrolled her in dance classes at age four, which became very crucial for her gymnastics career.
When Mary Lou was eight, Lois took her and her sister Shari to West Virginia University for weekly gymnastics classes, sparking her passion for the sport.
Mary Lou Retton Credited Her Parents’ Sacrifices for Her Successful Career!
From the very start, Ronnie and Lois were deeply supportive of Mary Lou’s gymnastics dreams, even when it meant significant sacrifices.
At age 14, Mary Lou moved to Houston, Texas, to train with renowned coaches Bela and Márta Károlyi. This decision was very challenging for both Mary and her parents, for it required her to leave her family behind in West Virginia.
However, Ronnie and Lois allowed her to take this opportunity, understanding it was critical in pursuing her career.
Mary Lou has openly expressed gratitude for her parents’ sacrifices and all the love and support showered on her.
In a 2013 interview with CBN, she reflected on the sacrifices she made as a young gymnast, such as moving away from home at 14 to train in Houston. However, she emphasized that her parents’ sacrifices were even greater, saying:
I say, ‘Yes, they were for me.’ But now as I look at the situation as a parent, I think to myself, wow, my family, my mother and father made the sacrifice.
