Mary Lou Retton's Houseful of Gymnasts

Gymnast Mary Lou Retton is known for winning the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics, and it appears as if her daughter Emma Jean may follow suit. Emma is just six years old, but Mary Lou points out that she "is on the Olympic-hopeful track," and she isn’t the only gymnast in the family. Mary Lou and husband Shannon Kelley‘s older daughters also participate — Shayla Rae, 13, and McKenna Lane, 11, take gymnastics classes five days a week. Mary Lou worries "all the time" that her daughters will be compared to her when it comes to gymnastics, so she makes a point of constantly asking if they’d like to continue, adding that "they seem to really love the sport" except for Skyla Brae, 8, "who prefers horseback riding." 

While the girls may favor different sports, they all come together to spend time with their dad, who takes them on father-daughter fishing trips. The time that the girls spend with Shannon are "precious moments" for Mary Lou, because she gets to see her husband "completely uninhibited" with his little girls so much that "he’d let them put makeup on him" when they played dress up. 

Having a household of ladies can have its drawbacks though, such as in the morning when everyone is trying to get ready! "It’s one big assembly line as I do their hair before school," Mary Lou laughs, because "the older girls want it straightened, and the younger ones get ponytails or pigtails." Speaking of school, the 40-year-old mom was excited and "happy to have a few hours to myself" when youngest daughter Emma started classes recently.

Emma was ready. She’d seen her big sisters go to school for years and always asked, ‘It is my turn?’

Parenthood may be fun a good part of the time, but Mary Lou admits that the scariest part of being a parent is the Internet, adding that "we don’t let out kids go on MySpace or have their own computers" because "there are too many bad people and too many bad things out there."

Source: Family Circle, September 2008 issue; Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Celebrity Fight Night.

Comments

Mary Lou Retton was one of my idols growing up. She is a year older than me and it was so awesome to watch her compete in the Olympics. I had done gymnastics for years up until I was about 14 (but still tumbled with cheerleading). I think its great her girls are into gymastics! Its a great sport of its done correctly and coached correctly. I would love to see more pics of her family!

- tink1217 on August 6th, 2008

kind of a dumb question, just wondering if all the girls are hers with the same father or are some of them his with another mother? i didn’t know she had that many kids so close together if they’re all theirs.

- SH on August 6th, 2008

SH- Yes, the kids are both hers and her husband’s.

- Henrietta on August 6th, 2008

SH…her children are all from the same mother and father. THey are a great family.

- Sara on August 6th, 2008

SH, all the girls are hers and her husband together.

- tink1217 on August 6th, 2008

SH..they are all Mary Lou and Shannon’s children.

- Lisa on August 6th, 2008

All four girls are Mary Lou’s with her husband, Shannon Kelley. I saw them all in a commercial recently (for a nutritional supplement?) but I could not find it on you tube.

I think it’s funny how her daughter is already taller than she is!

- Jessica on August 6th, 2008

SH, all four girls are both Mary Lou and Shannon’s together. I can’t believe it has been 24 years since Mary Lou won the gold medal for the all-around at the 1984 Olympics and that she is 40! Time flies that’s for sure.

- Alice on August 6th, 2008

I remember when Mary Lou got married and then had her first child, seems like yesterday. I think Mary Lou is adorable and and could pass for a girl in her 20′s. Her daughters are beautiful, last time I saw them was in her commercial. I have always felt that MAry Lou was a very sweet, genuine person. I can’t believe she is the mom to 4 girls, let alone a teenager.

- Star on August 7th, 2008

HEY

- EMALIE on December 3rd, 2008

Okay I’m a good friend with Shayla and yes they are all Mary’s kids with the same father. They live in WV now and she’s one of my goof friends along with Allison haha hope u read this shay!

- Tara on August 29th, 2009