15 greatest upsets in Summer Olympic history
By Brad Weiss
12. 1984: Retton captures gold in Los Angeles
During the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, Mary-Lou Retton won five medals, but none was bigger than her gold in the All-around event. Retton, who almost did not compete in the event, would go on to become an American icon, appearing on Wheaties boxes and in commercials.
Five weeks before the Olympics, Retton did damage to her knee during a floor routine and had to have surgery. A huge fan of Romania’s Nadis Comaneci, Retton would battle with another Romanian during the all-around event, as she bested Ecaterina Szabo by 0.05 points to win the gold.
The crowd at Pauley Pavilion was electric as Retton and Szabo battled it out. Retton scored perfect 10s on the floor and vault, leading to the victory. She became the first American to win an Olympic gold in the indvidual all-round.
In front of an enthralled crowd inside the University of California’s Pauley Pavilion, Retton locked horns with Romania’s Ecaterina Szabo in the individual all-around competition. Recording perfect 10s on the floor and vault, she pipped her rival to the title by 0.05 points, becoming the first American in history to win an Olympic individual all-around gold.
Prior to her victory, all gold medal winners came from Eastern Europe, but those countries boycotted the 1984 Games, leading to Retton grabbing the gold.
Next: 11. 1924: Charlton takes down Borg