#7: American Icon, Mary Lou Retton
There’s something about the Olympic gymnastics competition that makes even the most reticent American feel completely patriotic. Mary Lou Retton is one of those iconic athletes who made every American citizen feel pride during the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Just weeks after suffering a knee injury, Mary Lou won five medals, including a gold in the individual all-around competition.
Mary Lou Retton says that the famous Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci was the driving force behind her desire to learn gymnastics. Mary Lou knew she wanted to become a champion after watching Comaneci compete in the 1976 Olympic Games. Needless to say, Mary Lou surpassed her idol in many ways. After her major Olympic wins, she went on to be one of the most popular American athletes of the decade.