Olympian Mary Lou Retton’s Daughter Skyla Welcomes First Baby

Olympian Mary Lou Retton's Daughter Skyla Welcomes First Baby

As a lifestyle expert with a deep appreciation for resilience and the human spirit, I find Mary Lou Retton’s journey to be nothing short of inspiring. From her Olympic triumphs to her latest role as a grandmother, she continues to defy expectations and prove that age is merely a number.


Mary Lou Retton is vaulting into her next chapter as a grandma.

Skyla Kelley, the daughter of an Olympic athlete, has recently given birth to her first child, a baby girl. This news comes from People magazine.

Mary Lou shared with the media that she prefers to be known as “LouLou” instead of names like “Mimi”, “Gigi”, or “Nana”. She emphasized her choice by saying, “A LouLou!”

She’s excitedly brainstorming numerous ideas on how to lavish her 56-year-old self upon her granddaughter, as well as any upcoming grandkids. She playfully teases that this is something she didn’t get the chance to do with her own children!

She went on to say, “I’ll have my fun with them, playing games like hide and seek when they visit. It’s going to be a joyful time for Loulou!”

In May, the family announced Skyla’s pregnancy to everyone, as she proudly displayed her baby bump during her 22-year-old sister Emma’s graduation ceremony at the University of Arkansas.

However, Mary Lou reached a significant family milestone this year, but it’s been challenging for her. In addition to her two daughters, Shayla (age 29) and McKenna (age 27), she has a shared history with ex-husband Shannon Kelley. Unfortunately, in October, she was hospitalized due to a rare type of pneumonia.

McKenna stated that she requires assistance to breathe, as she has been in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for more than a week. To honor her privacy, he chose not to reveal every detail about her condition.

Olympian Mary Lou Retton's Daughter Skyla Welcomes First Baby

And looking back on the ordeal now, the legendary gymnast can’t believe she’s still alive.

“She expressed her gratitude by saying that she’s glad to be here in January. She feels fortunate because at one point, they considered putting her on life support.”

After her recuperation, Mary Lou was blessed with a heartfelt message from her old Olympic gymnastics comrades – Michelle Dusserre (age 55), Pam Bileck (age 55), Tracee Talavera (age 57), Julianne McNamara (age 58), and Kathy Johnson (age 64) – during the July 25 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show.

Olympian Mary Lou Retton's Daughter Skyla Welcomes First Baby

Michelle said she was glad Mary Lou was on the mend, and told her to “keep getting better.”

Kathy added, “We have your back. Always have, always will. You got this.”

The situation was undeniably heartfelt for Mary Lou, expressing that the video message held a unique significance, given the strong bond she and her team continue to share.

Looking back, it’s been four decades since then, yet our bond remains unbreakable – we’re not just sisters, but best friends for life. We’ve walked hand in hand, weathering the ups and downs of life together. Through the joyous moments and challenging times, I’ve seen you grow, and I’m proud to say that I’ve been there with you every step of the way, offering unwavering support.

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2024-08-01 02:47