The greatest Olympic athlete from every U.S. state

West Virginia: Mary Lou Retton

Sport: Gymnastics

Olympics: Los Angeles 1984

At one point in her career, Mary Lou Retton had the nickname of “America’s Sweetheart” which is sure to earn any athlete a spot on a best Olympian list. She is perhaps the most famous American gymnast to ever have competed in any Olympiad. Even though she only participated in one Games, she accomplished more than most gymnasts have ever done in their whole career.

Retton fell in love with the sport in 1976 and decided to train full-time in the pursuit of her dreams. She actually moved to Houston to be coached by Bela and Marta Karolyi and even though they were very strict coaches, it would eventually pay off. Shortly before the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Retton suffered a knee injury during practice and her participation was in serious jeopardy. She was forced to undergo surgery and had a mere five weeks to recover and be able to perform. Somehow, Retton pulled it off and became the first American woman ever to win the gold medal in the all-around competition.

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That feat would stand for 20 years, but even that wasn’t enough for Retton. She took home another four medals in the 1984 Games, winning the most medals of any athlete. Her exploits led her to be named Sports Illustrated “Sportswoman of the Year” and it certainly didn’t hurt that the 1984 Games were on American soil. Retton will always remain a pioneer in women’s gymnastics and many current gymnasts cite her as an idol.

Honorable Mention: Randy Barnes, shot put in Seoul 1988 and Atlanta 1996