Mary Lou Retton Tears Up Over Messages From 1984 Olympic Teammates

I am truly inspired by the stories of these young gymnasts, Joscelyn Rivera, Joscelyn Roberson, and Leanne Wong, who have worked tirelessly to reach the pinnacle of their sport and qualify for the Olympics. Their determination and resilience are awe-inspiring.

For Mary Lou Retton, the 1984 Olympics yielded a sisterhood that has lasted 40 years.

The gold medalist was deeply touched when when she received a heartfelt video message from her five ex-teammates – Michelle Dusserre (55), Pam Bileck (55), Tracee Talavera (57), Julianne McNamara (58), and Kathy Johnson (64) – on Kelly Clarkson’s show on July 25.

Dusserre expressed her joy that Retton, who had been ill with a rare type of pneumonia and spent time in the hospital last fall, was now on the road to recovery. She hoped he would continue to improve.

Johnson, meanwhile, told Retton, “We have your back. Always have, always will. You got this.”

Regarding Retton’s response to the video, he described it as emotionally moving at the age of 56. (or) Retton, now 56, found the video particularly meaningful and expressed his emotion by calling it special.

Certainly, she’s no stranger to communications from her LA Olympics teammates, according to Retton, who mentioned they have a group text.

She shared with Kelly Clarkson, “Forty years have passed since then, but we’re still inseparable, still more like sisters than friends. We’ve been there for each other throughout life’s ups and downs, witnessing and bolstering one another all along.”

When she was just 16 years old, this native of West Virginia made history at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles by claiming the first individual all-around Olympic gold medal for an American woman. Despite the Cold War tensions that led most Soviet athletes to boycott the games, she additionally earned two silver and two bronze medals.

While reminiscing about the games where her team and she earned the silver medal in the team all-around competition, she acknowledged the significance of establishing a new standard for future American gymnasts.

As an obsessed fan, I can’t help but reflect on my past sources of inspiration. Once upon a time, they came from Russia, Romania, and East Germany. But you know what? We’ve moved past that now.

At the Paris Olympics, the American gymnastics team features some familiar faces and newcomers. Among them are Simone Biles, making her third appearance, Jade Carey and Sunisa Lee in their second Olympic Games, and 16-year-old Hezly Rivera, who joins the team for her first Olympics.

For more about the 2024 Paris Olympic gymnastics team representing USA, keep reading.

At the Paris Olympics, the American gymnastics team features some familiar faces and new talents. Among them are Simone Biles, making her third appearance, and Jade Carey, Sunisa Lee, and Jordan Chiles, who will be participating in their second Olympic Games. Additionally, 16-year-old Hezly Rivera joins the team as a fresh addition to the squad.

For more about the 2024 Paris Olympic gymnastics team representing USA, keep reading.

Simone Biles, the 27-year-old gymnast from Texas, is known as the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) due to her impressive achievements in the sport. She has earned a record-breaking total of seven Olympic medals (four golds, one silver, and two bronze) from the 2016 and 2020 Games, along with an astounding 30 World Championship medals (23 golds, four silvers, and three bronzes).

Sunisa “Suni” Lee, who was born in Minnesota in 2003 and began training in gymnastics at the age of 6, achieved remarkable success in the sport. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the 21-year-old made history by becoming the first Asian American woman to win the gold medal in the all-around competition. She also earned silver with her teammates and a bronze medal in the uneven bars event. Following the Olympics, Lee joined Auburn University’s gymnastics team but announced that her final collegiate season would be her last, with the goal of competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, Lee’s tenure on the squad was cut short as she revealed in April 2023 that she was dealing with a kidney issue. By June 2024, Lee had recovered and qualified for the Olympic team, expressing her pride in her resilience and determination not to regret anything she had left unfinished. “I think I would give myself a medal for not giving up,” Lee stated during an interview with TopMob News. “There have been so many moments when I could have given up and moved on with my life, but I wanted more for myself.”

At the young age of 6, Jordan Chiles, named after renowned basketball star Michael Jordan, embarked on her gymnastics journey. Her progression through the competitive levels was impressive, amassing numerous accolades along the way. However, despite her achievements, she often faced unwelcoming remarks and racial attacks within the sport.

Jade Carey is grateful to her parents, who owned a gym and introduced her to gymnastics as a baby, for her passion and training since 2002. Despite facing a setback at the 2020 Olympics with a disappointing eighth place finish in the vault event, she turned things around by winning the gold in floor exercise. Carey, now an athlete at Oregon State University, reflects on her determination to continue competing and strive for more achievements in the upcoming 2024 Olympics.

Hezly Rivera is set to represent the U.S. in the Olympics for the first time in her career. This remarkable achievement comes only a few weeks after she turned 16, making her the youngest member of the entire American team at the upcoming 2024 Games. In an interview with TopMob News last July, Rivera shared her excitement: “I was thrilled because all my hard work had finally paid off. I couldn’t believe it when I heard my name announced – I was in disbelief!”

Joscelyn Roberson, a talented 18-year-old gymnast from Texas, has earned a spot as one of two traveling replacements for the 2024 U.S. women’s Olympic team. Her excitement is palpable; she expressed it eloquently on Instagram in July with the exclamation, “I am going to Paris!!!” Her journey to this point began in 2009, but her career reached new heights when she moved to attend World Champions Centre – a renowned gymnastics training facility in Houston – following her mother’s employment opportunity there. Surrounded by like-minded individuals, Roberson thrived and saw significant improvements. In 2023, she finished first in vault at the Winter Cup and placed second in balance beam, while also securing the top spot for vault at the Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships.

Leanne Wong, a 20-year-old gymnast from Kansas, currently serves as a traveling backup for the 2024 women’s Olympic gymnastics team. Originally an alternate for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, she had to quarantine alongside fellow alternate Kara Eaker after Eaker tested positive for COVID-19. This experience motivated Wong to return to elite gymnastics and compete in international competitions following the Olympics. Her dedication paid off with multiple podium finishes at the 2021, 2022, and 2023 World Championships, as well as being crowned the NCAA uneven bars champion this year while competing for the University of Florida Gators.

2024-07-25 19:19

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