同城快约

McLane celebrated not just Retton鈥檚 success, but also the way in which she had to face struggles to achieve it.

鈥淪he has overcome so many hardships, but she continues to radiate and to shine,鈥� McLane said.

Following McLane鈥檚 introduction, a short video was played, highlighting Retton鈥檚 final two rounds of competition in the 1984 Summer Olympics. With just two components left, she trailed by fifteen hundredths of a point. She fought back, turning in flawless performances and earning perfect ten-point scores on both her floor exercise and vault, to win the Olympic gold.

Retton鈥檚 journey required hard work, dedication, and sacrifice.

鈥淚 had to leave comfort zones,鈥� Retton said. 鈥淚 had to be resilient, but, most importantly, I had to learn how to seize the moment when my opportunity came.鈥�

At the age of fourteen, Retton was accepted into the tutelage of the sport鈥檚 most celebrated coach, B茅la K谩rolyi. It was a life-changing opportunity that required to her to change her life entirely. Though it would require her to move without her family to Houston for training, she begged her parents to let her go.

With her parents鈥� blessing, Retton packed all of her possessions into two gym bags and set out for Texas. She moved in with a family of strangers and began training eight hours every day.

Retton recalled grueling training sessions and non-stop competition to defend her spot on the team.

鈥淲hen we walked in the gym, we knew it was go-time, and there was somebody waiting to take my spot if I happened to be lazy that day,鈥� Retton said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 how competitive it was. That鈥檚 how close it was.鈥�

鈥淭hat鈥檚 the difference between making an Olympic team or not,鈥� Retton said. 鈥淚 won that Olympic gold medal by five hundredths of a point. That鈥檚 the smallest margin that you can beat somebody by.鈥�

Even after she had secured her position, Retton鈥檚 road to the games was anything but smooth. At age sixteen, just six weeks before the opening ceremonies, Retton experienced a catastrophic knee injury which required immediate surgery.

鈥淭o say the least, the doctors were not optimistic about my chances,鈥� Retton recalled. 鈥淪ome said, 鈥楴o way. Go back home to West Virginia. Wait until the next Olympics.鈥欌��

鈥淚t was at that moment, I felt a surge in my stomach, and I know it was the Holy Spirit,鈥� Retton said. 鈥淗e was blessing me and telling me, 鈥榊ou can do this.鈥欌��

Retton was barely out of recovery when she was put on a return flight to Houston. The next day, she was back in the gym, willing herself through one of the hardest trials of her life.

鈥淵ou train for your entire career to peak at Olympic-shape, and I was there,鈥� Retton recalled. 鈥淪uddenly, I was learning how to walk again.鈥�

Within two weeks, she was back to training on every piece of apparatus. A month later, she was standing atop the medal stand, listening to American national anthem being played in her honor. Retton would go on to win five medals during the 1984 Olympics, the most won by any athlete during that summer鈥檚 games.

She recalled the way her life 鈥渇lipped upside down鈥� following the games, including paying several visits to Ronald and Nancy Reagan at the White House and becoming the first woman ever featured on a Wheaties box.

鈥淒on鈥檛 let other people put limitations on you,鈥� Retton said. 鈥淭aking those risks and meeting those challenges head-on is sometimes the only way to make your dreams come true.鈥�

Following Retton鈥檚 speech, she was surprised to see the rest of the platform party stand up, holding scorecards that each read 鈥�10.鈥�

鈥淭hat鈥檚 the first 鈥榩erfect 10鈥� in the history of the McLane Lecture,鈥� 同城快约 Provost John Vassar said.

The McLane Lecture brings internationally recognized speakers to 同城快约 each year to share their experiences and insights about leadership, government, business, and faith. The annual lecture is offered through the generosity of Temple residents Elizabeth and Drayton McLane Jr.