Mary Lou Retton vaults her way to Olympic gold
Mary Lou Retton displays her winning form.
WHEN Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci was performing in the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal and scoring tens … after tens …after tens, an eight-year-old American girl, was watching on television.
After the Games, the girl, Mary to take her to gymnastics classes. Before long, Mary Lou was winning every contest she entered. Her parents were told her potentials were boundless.
They brought her to Houston, U.S. a few years earlier had set up gymnastics camp. Karolyi’s most - mania is Comaneci.
Eight years and two Olympic Games later in Los Angeles, the girl stood focused on the sidehorse at the other end of the matted runway, competing in the sport of her choice that demanded perfec Olympic gold medal.
A year earlier, Mary Lou failed to make it to the 1983 World Championships because of an injured LA Games, she had arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips.
- mania beat the U.S. for the gold medal in the women’s team event. Szabo in the individual race on the strength of competition rule carrying over the individual scores from the team championship. Mafy Lou hundredths of a point.
In the battle for the individual competing in different groups and, therefore, performing on different apparatus at the same time.
After two of the last four apparatus, balance beam, were Szabo scored a perfect 10 and the uneven bars where Mary Lou did not fare enough to remain on top, the two were tied for the lead.
Szabo was almost perfect with 9.80 in balance beam to seize the of a point. On her third apparatus, Szabo got 9.90 but it was Mary Lou routine. With only one apparatus left, the American still trailed by
Szabo completed her routine was to step up for her last appearance in her favorite vault. The situ needed to score a perfect 10 to go home with the gold. A 9.95 would will end up sharing all the marbles. Anything less, she loses.
“You’re going to do it … you’re going to do it!” was Karolyi’s last instruction to her pupil. ‘I know you can do it, the best you can vault. I know you can do it … Now or never, OK?”
Mary Lou, who appeared much, much calmer than her coach responded with a smile,” OK,” as she moved to the mat.
Pauley Pavilion at the L.A. Olympics was deadly silent as the 16-year-old, 4-foot- 9,” 92-pound Mary Lou approached that apparatus, running, She hit the “horse” strongly with both hands, twirled through the air and “stuck” her landing.
The crowd roared hysterically, but Karolyi’s screaming could be heard over the incredibly loud noise. “Ten … ten … ten … “
It took thirty seconds before Mary - ant scoreboard. The coach was right, Mary Lou scored a perfect “10” and was declared an Olympic champion ton win the overall title.
There was one cosmic moment that followed. Competition rules give contestant two attempts in vault with the highest mark to be counted. With victory assured after have to make a second attempt. She did anyway. And the second result was the same … a perfect 10!