GYMNAST
Mary Lou Retton
1968 - Today

Mary Lou Retton
Mary Lou Retton (born January 24, 1968) is an American retired gymnast. At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, she won a gold medal in the individual all-around competition, as well as two silver medals and two bronze medals. Retton's performance made her one of the most popular athletes in the United States. Her gold medal win was historic as Retton was the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal in Olympic gymnastics. Read more on Wikipedia
Her biography is available in 34 different languages on Wikipedia (up from 31 in 2024). Mary Lou Retton is the 200th most popular gymnast (down from 182nd in 2024), the 15,937th most popular biography from United States (down from 14,895th in 2019) and the 9th most popular American Gymnast.
Mary Lou Retton is most famous for being the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal in gymnastics at the Olympics, achieving this at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. She was known not just for her athletic prowess but also for her infectious smile and positive attitude, which earned her a place in the hearts of many Americans during that time.
Memorability Metrics
Page views of Mary Lou Retton by language
Among GYMNASTS
Among gymnasts, Mary Lou Retton ranks 200 out of 370. Before her are Ri Se-gwang, Yang Wei, Lori Fung, Tatiana Lysenko, Holger Behrendt, and Aliya Mustafina. After her are Gabriela Potorac, Dimosthenis Tampakos, Cristina Bontaș, Kōhei Uchimura, Sandra Izbașa, and Epke Zonderland.
Most Popular Gymnasts in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsRi Se-gwang
1985 - Present
HPI: 45.51
Rank: 194
Yang Wei
1980 - Present
HPI: 45.43
Rank: 195
Lori Fung
1963 - Present
HPI: 45.38
Rank: 196
Tatiana Lysenko
1975 - Present
HPI: 45.33
Rank: 197
Holger Behrendt
1964 - Present
HPI: 45.31
Rank: 198
Aliya Mustafina
1994 - Present
HPI: 45.17
Rank: 199
Mary Lou Retton
1968 - Present
HPI: 45.10
Rank: 200
Gabriela Potorac
1973 - Present
HPI: 45.09
Rank: 201
Dimosthenis Tampakos
1976 - Present
HPI: 45.01
Rank: 202
Cristina Bontaș
1973 - Present
HPI: 44.89
Rank: 203
Kōhei Uchimura
1989 - Present
HPI: 44.88
Rank: 204
Sandra Izbașa
1990 - Present
HPI: 44.86
Rank: 205
Epke Zonderland
1986 - Present
HPI: 44.80
Rank: 206
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1968, Mary Lou Retton ranks 789. Before her are Diego el Cigala, Ranko Matasović, Anca Tănase, Lim Su-kyung, Big Syke, and Jonathan Knight. After her are Ben Shepherd, An Han-bong, Masanori Sanada, Carsten Embach, Ben Shenkman, and Paulo Sérgio.
Others Born in 1968
Go to all RankingsDiego el Cigala
SINGER
1968 - Present
HPI: 45.23
Rank: 783
Ranko Matasović
LINGUIST
1968 - Present
HPI: 45.22
Rank: 784
Anca Tănase
ATHLETE
1968 - Present
HPI: 45.19
Rank: 785
Lim Su-kyung
POLITICIAN
1968 - Present
HPI: 45.17
Rank: 786
Big Syke
SINGER
1968 - 2016
HPI: 45.16
Rank: 787
Jonathan Knight
SINGER
1968 - Present
HPI: 45.12
Rank: 788
Mary Lou Retton
GYMNAST
1968 - Present
HPI: 45.10
Rank: 789
Ben Shepherd
MUSICIAN
1968 - Present
HPI: 45.09
Rank: 790
An Han-bong
WRESTLER
1968 - Present
HPI: 45.09
Rank: 791
Masanori Sanada
SOCCER PLAYER
1968 - 2011
HPI: 45.08
Rank: 792
Carsten Embach
ATHLETE
1968 - Present
HPI: 45.06
Rank: 793
Ben Shenkman
ACTOR
1968 - Present
HPI: 45.06
Rank: 794
Paulo Sérgio
SOCCER PLAYER
1968 - Present
HPI: 45.04
Rank: 795
In United States
Among people born in United States, Mary Lou Retton ranks 15,944 out of 20,380. Before her are John O'Hurley (1954), Hans Niemann (2003), Dennis Daugaard (1953), Pete Domenici (1932), Larisa Oleynik (1981), and Ralph Yarborough (1903). After her are Bo Jackson (1962), J Mascis (1965), Brendon Urie (1987), Evan Bayh (1955), Bobby Lee (1971), and Taryn Thomas (1983).
Others born in United States
Go to all RankingsJohn O'Hurley
ACTOR
1954 - Present
HPI: 45.11
Rank: 15,938
Hans Niemann
CHESS PLAYER
2003 - Present
HPI: 45.11
Rank: 15,939
Dennis Daugaard
POLITICIAN
1953 - Present
HPI: 45.11
Rank: 15,940
Pete Domenici
POLITICIAN
1932 - 2017
HPI: 45.10
Rank: 15,941
Larisa Oleynik
ACTOR
1981 - Present
HPI: 45.10
Rank: 15,942
Ralph Yarborough
POLITICIAN
1903 - 1996
HPI: 45.10
Rank: 15,943
Mary Lou Retton
GYMNAST
1968 - Present
HPI: 45.10
Rank: 15,944
Bo Jackson
ACTOR
1962 - Present
HPI: 45.09
Rank: 15,945
J Mascis
MUSICIAN
1965 - Present
HPI: 45.09
Rank: 15,946
Brendon Urie
MUSICIAN
1987 - Present
HPI: 45.09
Rank: 15,947
Evan Bayh
POLITICIAN
1955 - Present
HPI: 45.08
Rank: 15,948
Bobby Lee
ACTOR
1971 - Present
HPI: 45.08
Rank: 15,949
Taryn Thomas
PORNOGRAPHIC ACTOR
1983 - Present
HPI: 45.08
Rank: 15,950
Among GYMNASTS In United States
Among gymnasts born in United States, Mary Lou Retton ranks 9. Before her are Simone Biles (1997), Shawn Johnson East (1992), Bart Conner (1958), Larry Nassar (1963), Aly Raisman (1994), and Gabby Douglas (1995). After her are Kerri Strug (1977), Peter Vidmar (1961), Julianne McNamara (1965), Shannon Miller (1977), McKayla Maroney (1995), and Dominique Moceanu (1981).
Simone Biles
1997 - Present
HPI: 51.56
Rank: 3
Shawn Johnson East
1992 - Present
HPI: 51.05
Rank: 4
Bart Conner
1958 - Present
HPI: 50.27
Rank: 5
Larry Nassar
1963 - Present
HPI: 48.79
Rank: 6
Aly Raisman
1994 - Present
HPI: 48.59
Rank: 7
Gabby Douglas
1995 - Present
HPI: 48.00
Rank: 8
Mary Lou Retton
1968 - Present
HPI: 45.10
Rank: 9
Kerri Strug
1977 - Present
HPI: 41.57
Rank: 10
Peter Vidmar
1961 - Present
HPI: 40.24
Rank: 11
Julianne McNamara
1965 - Present
HPI: 39.72
Rank: 12
Shannon Miller
1977 - Present
HPI: 38.78
Rank: 13
McKayla Maroney
1995 - Present
HPI: 37.54
Rank: 14
Dominique Moceanu
1981 - Present
HPI: 35.64
Rank: 15
















































