Olympic wrestling champion, Ronda Jean Rousey had a close bond with her parents, especially her biological late father that deeply shaped her journey.
Losing her father at just 8 years old, Ronda’s father has become a driving force that inspired her to work harder and honor his memory.
Despite the loss of her father, Ronda Rousey’s mother stepped in to fill the role of both parents in her life.
Moreover, Ronda’s mother, AnnMaria De Mars is no ordinary woman; she was a world judo champion at the peak of her career.
The support and inspiration Ronda receives from her parents is unmatched, and she consistently shows gratitude for their role in her life.
Ronda Rousey Experienced The Tragic Loss Of Her Biological Father At A Young Age
Ronda Jean Rousey was born to Ronald John Rousey and AnnMaria De Mars on February 1, 1987 as the youngest of her siblings.
As her mother was a former judo champion, her interest in wresting started as an inspiration from her.
However, the wrestling champion had to face the tragic loss of her biological father from suicide at 8 years old.
Recently, Ronda even shared publicly about how she found that about her father’s suicide and the trauma that followed.
On an episode of the Diary of a CEO podcast, she revealed how her mother informed her about her father’s death.
Given that his death was a result of suicide, she explained how her mother delivered the heartbreaking news to her by saying:
She’s a PhD in educational psychology so very technically I guess. She just like, laid the facts out – ‘This is what happened and this is what’s going on. We wanted to keep it from you.
Fans were shocked by the news, as the gold medalist had never previously revealed details about her father’s loss.
Furthermore, she shared how she felt after losing her father, expressing that it felt like she lost a piece of herself, saying:
In the long run, it kind of gave me this feeling that even if everything is okay, everything could come crashing down at any moment.
I guess I lost the feeling of security even when everything is going great.
Additionally, she reminisced about the time spent with her father and cherished the memories they created together.
She also revealed how her father would support her during one-on-one conversations as she struggled with speech due to apraxia.
Rousey described herself as a daddy’s girl, emphasizing her close relationship with her father and the wonderful memories they shared.
I was a big-time daddy’s girl.
She also recalled how, after his death, she would make up stories that he had simply gone away for business.
Ronda Rousey’s Parents Split Up After Which She Remarried
AnnMaria De Mars’s relationship with Ronda Rousey’s biological father did not work out, and the couple eventually split.
After that, she remarried Dennis De Mars, an aerospace engineer who is now Ronda’s stepfather.
In addition to being a supportive mother and wife, she is a successful professional in her own realm. She herself admitted once saying:
I love being Ronda’s mom, just like with all my kids, But, believe it or not, that is not the only thing I do.
Ronda Rousey’s mother, AnnMaria De Mars is also CEO of 7 generation games and the Julia group.
Further, she is an author and has earned an MA and PhD in Psychology from the University of California.
Nonetheless, the inspiration and support Ronda Rousey receives from her parents have played a crucial role in the success in her career.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Ronda Rousey held the record for the most UFC title defenses by a female until Valentina surpassed her in 2022.
- She retired from the MMA in 2016 and became the first ever female fighter inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2018.
- Rousey married fellow UFC fighter Travis Browne in 2017 and the two have been together for seven years now.
