 |
Mary Lou Retton at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Source: https://usopm.org/mary-lou-retton/ (May be subject to copyright) |
Moreover, when they had a chance to shine at home in front of their entire country, no star was brighter than gymnast Mary Lou Retton.
She not only captured gold, but the hearts of the world.
I just heard today she has been placed on life support and is not expected to live.
It is a shocking end to a fairytale story.
The 1984 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow were severely affected by a boycott of Western nations, including Canada and the United States. They were protesting the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. A lot of athletes were disappointed, especially those whose Olympic window was 1980.
The 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow were severely affected by a boycott of Western nations, including Canada and the United States. They were protesting the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. A lot of athletes were disappointed, especially those whose Olympic window was 1980.
Others were young enough to set their sights on the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The Eastern Bloc countries thought they would return the favour, so they boycotted the Los Angeles Olympics. This left the field wide open for a lot of athletes.
However, there was one Eastern Bloc country that did not boycott the Olympics – Romania. It did not mean much for a lot of sports, but there was one sport in particular that Romania excelled at – gymnastics.
Gymnastic powerhouse
The 1976 Summer Olympics were taken over by a young gymnast from Romania named Nadia Comaneci. She won gold medals in the all-around, uneven bars, and balance beam. She also achieved the first perfect 10 score at the Olympics, then earned six more before the end of the games.
The 1976 Summer Olympics were taken over by a young gymnast from Romania named Nadia Comaneci. She won gold medals in the all-around, uneven bars, and balance beam. She also achieved the first perfect 10 score at the Olympics, then earned six more before the end of the games.
She won two more gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, as Romania became a dominant force on the international scene.
Tough competition
The Americans dominated the Los Angeles Olympics, breaking records for the number of medals won. Many benefitted from their biggest rivals staying home.
The Americans dominated the Los Angeles Olympics, breaking records for the number of medals won. Many benefitted from their biggest rivals staying home.
That was not the case in women’s gymnastics.
Romania was still the team to beat, and they did beat everyone, taking the team all-around gold medal. They also won gold medals in balance beam, floor exercise and vault; a silver in individual all-around; and bronze medals in individual all-around and vault.
Olympic darling
Amid this Romanian storm emerged 16-year-old Mary-Lou Retton from Fairmont, West Virginia. She had been inspired by Comaneci. Ultimately, she ended up in the Karolyi gym, run by two Romanians who had coached Comaneci before defecting to the United States.
Amid this Romanian storm emerged 16-year-old Mary-Lou Retton from Fairmont, West Virginia. She had been inspired by Comaneci. Ultimately, she ended up in the Karolyi gym, run by two Romanians who had coached Comaneci before defecting to the United States.
Retton began to win meets in 1983, then won the United States Olympic Trials in 1984. However, she injured her knee and underwent surgery just over a month before the Olympics.
She recovered and gave the world an effort to remember for the ages.
Retton engaged in a battle with Romanian gymnast Ecaterina Szabo for the women’s gymnastics all-around title. It was the ultimate test of skill as competitors moved through four rotations – uneven bars; balance beam; floor exercise; and vault.
Szabo lead by 0.15 points after the uneven bars and balance beam. I remember Retton’s uneven bars routine where she actually flipped over and looked like she was sitting on the bar.
She dug deep in the final two events. She turned in perfect 10 scores in the floor exercise and vault. I remember very well the fear and anxiety among coaches, teammates and spectators. Would Mary-Lou Retton’s knee hold up to the force of landing from the vault. Then, when she stuck the landing, assuring herself the gold medal, she just stood there and started to cry.
It was very powerful.
She had beaten Szabo by 0.05 points to become the first woman outside Eastern Europe to win the all-around gold medal.
Retton would also lead her team to silver in the team all-around, win a second silver in the vault; and win bronze medals in the uneven bars and floor exercise.
Her grit, determination, and positive attitude had made her the darling of the Olympics.
The years after
Mary Lou Retton would retire in 1986, and would go on to do a variety of things including television and movie appearances, act as a spokesperson, sitting on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, appear on “Dancing With the Stars”, and much more.
Mary Lou Retton would retire in 1986, and would go on to do a variety of things including television and movie appearances, act as a spokesperson, sitting on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, appear on “Dancing With the Stars”, and much more.
Since I first started writing this when I heard she was facing life-threatening pneumonia, I have read her condition has improved, and she is home recovering from the pneumonia that made her so sick.
Parting thoughts
I didn’t realize how young Mary Lou Retton was in 1984, just two years older than me. That’s why she could remember Comaneci and was influenced by her.
I didn’t realize how young Mary Lou Retton was in 1984, just two years older than me. That’s why she could remember Comaneci and was influenced by her.
Although I was too young to remember the way Nadia Comaneci captured the spotlight in Montreal, it sounded similar to the way Mary Lou Retton captured the hearts of Americans at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
It’s fitting that one Olympic darling begets another Olympic darling.
No comments:
Post a Comment