Mary Lou Retton's 4 Children: All About Shayla, McKenna, Skyla and Emma

Mary Lou Retton is the mom of four daughters: Shayla, McKenna, Skyla and Emma

Mary Lou Retton is the mother of four children.

The former gymnast — who made history at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles by becoming the first American to win an individual all-around gold medal — shares four daughters, Shayla, McKenna, Skyla and Emma, with her ex-husband Shannon Kelley.

Following in Mary Lou's footsteps, all of her daughters were involved in gymnastics at a young age — an athletic path the proud mom has been supportive of throughout their childhood. However, not all of them pursued the sport at a higher level.

"I put my four daughters into a sport that I love. It’s woven into every fabric of my being. We’re a gymnastics family,” Mary Lou told Today in 2019. “Three stuck with it, one was a cheerleader. Her path was different than mine and I’m so proud of everything.”

Mary Lou's children have also been super supportive of their mom over the years, especially as she took on new endeavors post-retirement in 1986, including TV appearances on Glee and the 27th season of Dancing with the Stars.

In October 2023, Mary Lou's daughter, McKenna, shared on her Instagram Story that her mom is "fighting for her life" in the ICU with a rare form of pneumonia. Later that month, McKenna posted an update on her mom's condition on Instagram, sharing that the Olympian was home and in "recovery mode."

“We still have a long road of recovery ahead of us, but baby steps," she wrote.

Here's everything to know about Mary Lou's kids: Shayla, McKenna, Skyla and Emma.

Related: Former Olympic Gymnast Mary Lou Retton 'Fighting for Her Life' in ICU, Daughter Says

Shayla Kelley

Mary Lou and Shannon Kelley welcomed their firstborn child, daughter Shayla Kelley, in April 1995.

Shayla is a graduate of Baylor University, where she met her husband, Wyatt Schrepfer, who played football for the school. They got engaged in December 2018 and tied the knot in January 2020.

A big sister of three, Shayla often posts photos with her younger siblings and writes how "thankful" she is for them. She also pens sweet tributes to Mary Lou, whom she calls "the most loving, supportive and thoughtful mom out there."

In January 2020, Shayla and her sisters "had the most incredible opportunity" to induct Mary Lou into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame, making their mom the first woman to ever receive the honor. "Mom we are so so proud of you, and will ALWAYS be cheering you on!" she wrote on Instagram.

Following in her mother's athletic footsteps, Shayla is a competitive bodybuilder and competes in NPC Bikini Shows. She chronicles her journey on her YouTube channel with vlogs.

On Dec. 31, Shayla shared a video on Instagram looking back on her year, calling the 2023 the "hardest year" of her life. The video featured photos from Mary Lou's hospital room, including a shot where family members held her hand while she lay in a hospital bed.

Related: Mary Lou Retton Fundraiser Reaches $250K in Donations as She’s ‘Fighting for Her Life’ in ICU

McKenna Kelley

Mary Lou and Shannon welcomed their second child, daughter McKenna, in April 1997. She also has her mom's gymnastic genes.

McKenna took part in gymnastics when she was young and immediately "fell in love" with the sport. In 2019, she posted a throwback video of herself on Instagram along with a letter penned to her younger self in the caption.

"To the little girl who fell in love with gymnastics, I am so thankful you never looked back! Blood, sweat and tears, but a sport that gave me back so much more, who grew me into someone I am so proud to be," she wrote in part.

McKenna went on to complete for Louisiana State University. Just days after scoring a near-perfect 10 on her floor routine at the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championship, she and her mother appeared on the Today show to open up about their relationship.

“I don’t think I understood the enormity of what she did and the groundbreaking gymnastics she did at the time. To me she’s just mom,” McKenna shared, adding that after making the decision to pursue gymnastics, she never felt pushed to succeed by her mother.

“I think people expect this elaborate answer of she made me run at 6 a.m in the morning ... but she’s just mom to me. That’s all she is,” she continued.

McKenna wrapped up her career as a four-time All-American for the Tigers before she graduated with a degree in psychology in May 2019. According to her Instagram bio, McKenna currently works as a preschool teacher.

Skyla Kelley

Mary Lou and Shannon welcomed their third child, daughter Skyla, in August 2000. While she didn't pursue gymnastics like her older sister and mom, she was a varsity cheerleader throughout high school.

Upon graduating, Skyla continued her studies at Texas Tech University, where she was involved in Greek life and joined a sorority, according to her Instagram, before graduating in 2023.

Though her parents split in 2018, she still maintains a close relationship with her dad and posted a sweet tribute to "the best dad in the world" on Father's Day in 2020.

"Thank you for all the life lessons you’ve taught me and everything you do for me," she began the post on Instagram. "You’ve raised us 4 girls right and I thank you for that. I love you higgs👴🏻❤️."

Related: Mary Lou Retton's Daughter on Olympian's 'Groundbreaking' Gymnastics Career: 'She's Just Mom'

Emma Kelley

Mary Lou and Shannon welcomed their fourth child, daughter Emma, in June 2002.

Like her mom and older sister McKenna, Emma pursued gymnastics and went on to compete at a high level. She's a student-athlete at the University of Arkansas, which she said "has been one of the biggest blessings and opportunities."

Emma chose to use her platform to "help spread awareness and help others" by dedicating her 2023 season to The Reynolds Cancer House & NWA Children's Hospital. "I hope you all join me in this initiative of being the light & change for someone else this year!!" she wrote in part on Instagram.

The youngest sibling has the support of her Olympian mom, who often comments with words of encouragement on her social media posts. Plus, Mary Lou also dedicates sweet messages to her on her own Instagram page.

In June, the proud mom posted a tribute to Emma in celebration of her 21st birthday. "This day 21 years ago I had the privilege to deliver this exceptional young woman... you continue to inspire me and many others," Mary Lou wrote in the caption.

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