Mary Lou Retton was married to Shannon Kelley for nearly three decades before they split in 2018. Is she currently married or dating anyone?
Former gymnast Mary Lou Retton — 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 proud mother of four.
She shares four daughters, Shayla, McKenna, Skyla, and Emma, with her ex-husband Shannon Kelley.
Interestingly, all of her kids are following in her footsteps as gymnasts or athletes.
What is known about the retired U.S. gymnast’s love life: is she married or dating anyone right now?
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.
Retton and Kelley tied the knot in 1990, a year after meeting. Retton retired from professional gymnastics in 1986 and enrolled at UT Austin at the same time Kelley was a student there. They married just after they both graduated.
By profession, Shannon Kelley is now a college coach and a former University of Texas quarterback.
Additionally, Shannon worked in an investment firm and as a real estate developer before finding a career at the Houston Baptist University athletic department.
Kelley graduated from UT Austin and went on to earn a master’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, per a press release from the Houston Baptist University.
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.
She is currently focused on coaching and being her daughters’ biggest support in their gymnastic careers.
What were some of Mary Lou Retton’s accomplishments?
Mary Lou proved her ability as a legendary gymnast during the Summer Olympics in 1984 in Los Angeles.
She scored perfect 10s on the floor, securing the gold medal, which helped her become the first American in history to win an Olympic individual all-around 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, according to her Olympics biography.
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.
“I can’t describe how I felt,” Retton recalled, via the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum.
“I had goosebumps going up and down me. I knew from the takeoff, I knew from the run – I just knew it.”
Retton’s performance at the Olympics helped her get inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997.
What happened to Mary Lou Retton?
Retton made headlines in October 2023 after it was revealed that she had been hospitalized after reportedly battling a rare form of pneumonia.
The news was revealed by her daughter, McKenna Kelley, on Instagram. “Please help my mom continue to fight,” Kelley said in her post, which included a link to a SpotFund account that was made to help with medical costs, according to TMZ Sports.
However, after weeks of treatment, Kelley revealed via Instagram that the former gymnast made it home and is continuing to recover as she’s still battling with the sickness.
“Mom is HOME & in recovery mode,” she wrote. “We still have a long road of recovery ahead of us, but baby steps,” she continued.
On October 30, 2023, Retton took to the social media app to personally update her fans.
She posted a statement on Instagram that read:
“I’m beyond blessed to have the opportunity to make this statement. I am overwhelmed with all the love and support from the world as I fight. I am forever grateful to you all! I’m with family continuing to slowly recover and staying very positive as I know this recovery is a long and slow process. I appreciate everyone’s respect of my privacy at this time. When the time is right, I will be sharing more information about my health issues and hope I can help others who may face the same battle as me. I love you all.”