Mary Lou Retton is the mom of four daughters: Shayla, McKenna, Skyla, and Emma and all of her children are following in her footsteps. Details about her kids explored.
In October 2023, Mary Lou‘s daughter, McKenna, shared on her Instagram Story that her mom is “fighting for her life” in the ICU with a rare form of pneumonia. Along with the news, she included a link to a Spotfund page dedicated to Mary Lou.
On Oct. 23, McKenna posted an update on her mom’s condition to Instagram. “Mom is HOME & in recovery mode. We still have a long road of recovery ahead of us, but baby steps,” she wrote. “We are overwhelmed with the love and support from everyone. Grateful doesn’t scrape the surface of the posture of our hearts.”
The U.S. gymnast also personally gave an update about her health after she was released from the hospital in a statement she released on her Instagram page, sighted by TheDistin.com.
McKenna is one of Retton’s four daughters. The retired Gymnast’s daughters have followed in her footsteps pursuing sports as a passion, and here’s everything to know about them.
Credit: Instagram
How many children does Mary Lou Retton have?
The former gymnast — who made history at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles by becoming the first American to win an individual all-around gold medal — is a mother of four.
Mary Lou Retton has four daughters whose names are Shayla Rae Kelley, McKenna Lane Kelley, Skyla Brae Kelley, and Emma Jean Kelley.
She shares her kids with her ex-husband Shannon Kelley.
Family of gymnast, all of her daughters are following in her footsteps. They were involved in gymnastics at a young age and they are now pursuing it as their career.
Their athletic path, from childhood to date, has been supported by their proud mom. However, not all of them pursued the sport at a higher level.
“I put my four daughters into a sport that I love. It’s woven into every fabric of my being. We’re a gymnastics family,” Mary Lou told Today in 2019. “Three stuck with it, one was a cheerleader. Her path was different than mine and I’m so proud of everything.”
Mary Lou’s children have also been super supportive of their mom over the years, especially as she took on new endeavors post-retirement in 1986, including TV appearances on Glee and the 27th season of Dancing with the Stars.
Shayla Kelley
Shayla Kelley is Mary Lou and Shannon Kelley’s first child and she was born in April 1995.
She is the eldest sister of the Olympian’s four kids.
Following in her mother’s athletic footsteps, Shayla is a competitive bodybuilder and competes in NPC Bikini Shows. She chronicles her journey on her YouTube channel with vlogs.
While studying at Baylor University in 2017, Shayla was on the university’s tumbling and acrobatics team.
While in the sport, Shayla won a National Collegiate Acrobatics and Tumbling Association Individual Championship.
Shayla is married to her husband, Wyatt Schrepfer, whom she met at Baylor University. He played football for the school. They got engaged in December 2018 and tied the knot in January 2020.
McKenna Kelley
Mary Lou and Shannon welcomed their second child, daughter McKenna, in April 1997.
She also has her mom’s gymnastic genes.
McKenna took part in gymnastics when she was young and immediately “fell in love” with the sport. In 2019, she posted a throwback video of herself on Instagram along with a letter penned to her younger self in the caption.
“To the little girl who fell in love with gymnastics, I am so thankful you never looked back! Blood, sweat and tears, but a sport that gave me back so much more, who grew me into someone I am so proud to be,” she wrote in part.
McKenna was on the gymnastics team while studying at Louisiana State University. She scored a near-perfect 10 on her floor routine at the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championship
She and her mother appeared on the Today show to open up about their relationship.
Skyla Kelley
While Skyla isn’t involved in collegiate gymnastics, the Olympian’s daughter pursued cheerleading.
Mary Lou and Shannon welcomed their third child, daughter Skyla, in August 2000.
Unlike her mother and sisters, Skyla isn’t involved in collegiate gymnastics, the Olympian’s daughter pursued cheerleading.
Emma Kelley
Mary Lou and Shannon welcomed their fourth child, daughter Emma, in June 2002.
Emma is on the NCAA gymnastics team at the University of Arkansas, which she said “has been one of the biggest blessings and opportunities.”
In 2016, Emma finished fourth place at the Texas State Championship.
Who is Shannon Kelley, Mary Lou Retton’s ex-husband?
In 1990, Retton who is originally from West Virginia moved to live in Houston, Texas, and got married a few years after to her now ex-husband, Shannon Kelley.
By profession, Shannon Kelley is a former University of Texas quarterback.
Additionally, Shannon worked in real estate before finding a career at the Houston Baptist University athletic department.
In February 2018, the couple filed for divorce. Retton and Kelley were married for 27 years.
“It’s something that needed to happen for a long time,” Retton said concerning the divorce, in 2018.
Is Mary Lou Retton married or in a relationship? As of October 2023, Mary Lou Retton is not married, hence, she has no spouse or husband. Also, she isn’t known to be in a relationship, thus, she has no partner or boyfriend.
What were some of Mary Lou Retton’s accomplishments?
Mary Lou proved her ability as a legendary gymnast during the Summer Olympics in 1984.
She scored perfect 10s on the floor, securing the gold medal.
Mary then went on to place second in the vault category, walking away with a silver medal, and bronze in the uneven bars.
She also scored a second silver medal in the team event.
Her victories were heard around the world and she was named Sportswoman of the Year and Amateur Athlete of the Year by the American press.