America's perfect 10...
She would become known as "an Olympian for the ages", this adorable, diminutive 16-year old from Fairmont, West Virginia. On August 3rd, 1984, Mary Lou Retton would become the first American gymnast, male or female, to win a gold medal...
With a bum, arthritic knee operated on just two months earlier, Mary Lou approached the vault needing a perfect 10 to win Olympic gold. "I was thinking, 'stick, stick'. I like the added pressure, it makes me fight harder." "Stick it" means landing after a flip as if you had a foot-long spike on the sole of each foot. One backward somersault in a laid-out position with a full 360 degree twist later, Mary Lou became an American treasure to be envied by every teenage girl in the land and an authentic folk heroine. Mary Lou Retton had her perfect 10 and made Olympic history...
More August 3 Memories...
1949) The NBA is formed...
1956) Bedloe's Island becomes Liberty Island...
1963) The Beatles make their final appearance at the Cavern Club in Liverpool...
1963) "Surfer Girl" by the Beach Boys is released...
1963) Allan Sherman releases "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadda."
1965) Herman's Hermits top the charts with "I'm Henry VIII, I Am."
1966) Comedian Lenny Bruce OD's at the age of 40...
1966) The Rolling Stones record "Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby."
1971) Paul McCartney announces the formation of "Wings."
1975) The Bee Gees are #1 with "Jive Talkin'."
1975) The Louisiana Superdome is dedicated...
1981) U.S. traffic controllers walk out. President Reagan says "see ya."
1984) Mary Lou Retton scores a perfect 10 at Los Angeles Olympics (feature story)...
1988) Steve Winwood is #1 with "Roll With It."
1997) Garth Brooks performs a free concert in Central Park for HBO...
2004) The Statue of Liberty re-opens to the public for the first time since 911...
Happy Birthday to...
1921) Broadway composer Richard Adler...
1924) Author Leon Uris...
1924) The Jordanaires' Gordon Stoker...
1926) Tony Bennett...
1940) Martin Sheen...
1941) Beverly (Shirelles) Lee...
1941) Martha Stewart...
1950) Movie director John Landis...
1951) Hockey Hall of Famer Marcel Dionne...
1951) Jay ("Dennis the Menace") North...
1977) Tom Brady...
Commentary...
Mary Lou Retton became an overnight sensation with her perfect 10 at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. She would grace the cover of every major magazine in America, get her picture on a box of Wheeties, charm TV audiences with her appearances and become America's Sweetheart...
No steroid scandals, no controversy, no arrogance. Mary Lou Retton was a perfect 10. How refreshing...
