Across the nation yesterday, numerous talented gymnasts signed their National Letters of Intent, but only one happened to be the daughter of gymnastics’ living-legend, Mary Lou Retton. And, she’s headed to Louisiana State University.

Photo credit: @Marylouretton/Twitter
 

Rising elite, McKenna Kelley, may have followed her mother’s footsteps into the sport of gymnastics, but her recent string of success has made it clear that she’s on the way to making a name of her own. Kelley has garnered a number of titles this year including Junior Olympic National Floor Champion, as well as the all-around titles for the Texas Prime meet, Pikes Peak Cup, California Classic. Most notably, however, is Kelley’s co-champion title from the prestigious 2014 Nastia Liukin Cup.

 

LSU gymnastics head coach, D-D Breaux is excited about the 2015 class that includes Julianna Cannamela, Lexie Priessman and Kaitlyn Szafranski and the talent that McKenna Kelley will bring to the team. “McKenna is really strong on floor, and that’s probably the event she’s most known for. However, she is also incredibly solid on beam and vault, and she does well on bars,” Breaux said.

 

“If you had to characterize her gymnastics, the first thing that comes to mind is power. She’s a powerful, athletic young lady with loads of personality and leadership qualities that I think we can build a team around.”
 

However, Breaux is not the only coach who’s impressed with Kelley’s explosive gymnastics. In an interview with NBC Sports in June, USA Gymnastics National Team coordinator Martha Karolyi mentioned McKenna Kelley’s gymnastics is reminiscent of another powerful gymnast: her mother. “She certainly is almost as bouncy as Mary Lou was… and she shows great potential,” said Karolyi, who coached Retton with her husband, Bela, three decades ago.

While she is currently in the process of moving into the U.S. elite program for and preparing for college, no one knows what the future will hold for McKenna Kelley. But, there is one thing for certain: this future Tiger is no longer lurking in Mary Lou’s shadow. 




Related:
McKenna Kelly's winning 2014 J.O. National Floor Routine 
Catching up with McKenna Kelley