10 Reasons Why Mary Lou Retton Is The Ultimate Gymnastics Icon

2023-10-11

  1. She Won Five Medals in the 1984 Olympics - Mary Lou Retton became the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. She also won four other medals in the event, including a silver medal in the vault and a bronze medal in the floor exercise.
  2. She Appeared on the Cover of Sports Illustrated - Retton became the first female gymnast to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine in 1985. The cover photo featured her flipping a double twist while wearing her Olympic gold medal.
  3. She Was the First Female Athlete to Appear on a Wheaties Box - Retton was the first female athlete to appear on the iconic Wheaties cereal box in 1985. The box featured a picture of Retton performing a back handspring.
  4. She Was the First Female Athlete to Receive the James E. Sullivan Award - Retton was the first female athlete to receive the prestigious James E. Sullivan Award in 1985. The award recognizes the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States.
  5. She Was the First Woman to Host Saturday Night Live - Retton was the first female athlete to host Saturday Night Live in 1985. Her monologue featured jokes about her Olympic performance and her Wheaties box.
  6. She Was Named AP Female Athlete of the Year - Retton was named the Associated Press Female Athlete of the Year in 1985. This was the first time a female gymnast had won the award.
  7. She Appeared in a Television Movie - Retton appeared in the television movie The Best Little Girl in the World in 1981. She played a young gymnast struggling with an eating disorder.
  8. She Starred in Several Television Commercials - Retton starred in several television commercials for companies such as McDonald's, Coca-Cola, and Kodak. She also appeared in a commercial for the 1984 Summer Olympics.
  9. She Was a Member of the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame - Retton was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1996. She was the first American woman to be inducted.
  10. She Is an Inspiration to Young Gymnasts Everywhere - Retton is an inspiration to young gymnasts everywhere. She has demonstrated that hard work and dedication can lead to success in the sport.

Category: Sports | Topic: Mary Lou Retton | @Wikipedia

Mary Lou Retton