Fairmont native Mary Lou Retton, who had 10s by sticking the floor vault and a dazzling floor exercise routine to win the gold medal in the 1984 Olympics, will be going for another “10” on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” tonight (at 8).

Her partner will be professional dancer Sasha Farber.

Mary Lou became the first American woman to win the women's all-around gymnastics competition under Romanian coach Bela Karolyi, five weeks after a knee operation! She was born with hip dysplastia, which vaulted her into a left hip replacement surgery in her mid-30s.

Mary Lou is in the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame and the National Italian American Hall of Fame and was named Sports Illustrated Sportswoman of the Year for her Olympic feats.

She has lived in Fairmont since 2009 with her husband, former Texas quarterback Shannon Kelley, who is in the Fairmont State athletic department. They have four daughters who are 16 to 23 years old.

Her family’s original name was Rotunda “round building” but was changed to Retton in America. Her father was Ronnie Retton, in a long string of Fairview and Marion County athletes with that surname.

My niece, Renee, a WVU Ruby Memorial Hospital pharmacist, lives on the re-named Mary Lou Retton Drive in Fairmont, Mary Lou’s old neighborhood.

“Dancing” begins its 27^th season tonight.

32 years later, smile still dazzles

With the Summer Olympics in Brazil, this might be a good time to remember that Fairmont’s Mary Lou Retton became the first American to win a gold medal in gymnastics on Aug. 3, 1984.

That was six weeks after she underwent arthoscopic knee surgery!

She’s still the only American ever to win the Olympic All-Around title.

Mary Lou was Sports Illustrated’s Sportswoman of the Year in 1984.

She got Mary Lou Retton Drive in Fairmont named for her.

Mary Lou’s parents are Lois and Ronnie Retton. She is married to Shannon Kelley. Their children  are ShayJa Rae, McKenna Lane and Skyla Bra and Emma Jean.