Mary Lou Retton
In the summer of 1984, Retton made Olympic history when she became the first woman in the U.S. to take home an all-around gold in gymnastics. At the Los Angeles Games, Retton captured two silver medals and two bronzes, but never won another gold. In 1997, the superstar earned a spot on the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame and in 2004, she was even on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Mary Lou Retton
Missy Franklin
In 2012, Missy Franklin turned into a worldwide phenom at 17 years old. She burst into the scene at the London Games, winning four golds, in the 100 and 200 m backstroke, 4×100 m medley, and 4×200 m freestyle. Franklin dominated the World Championships in 2013 and 2015, and then she returned to the Olympics in 2016 and captured her fifth gold overall courtesy of her team winning the 4×200 m freestyle. Franklin retired from swimming in December 2018 and we are pretty sure swimming fans were quite disappointed.
Missy Franklin
