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Where Are These 15 Former Olympians Now and Are They Watching the 2016 Rio Games?
This year’s Olympics are definitely entertaining, but we can’t help but think about past games while seeing these athletes strut their stuff.
While some Olympians competing in Rio this year are returning medal winners, a lot are just now dipping their toes into Olympic glory. And while some of us watching from home are wondering how these gymnasts can get so high off the ground or how people can flip into a pool, there are some watching who could say, “Hey, I once did that.”
So we decided to take a look back and find out where some of our favorite former Olympians are now, and see if they’re watching the Rio Games right along with us.
1. Mary Lou Retton, Gold Medal in Gymnastics at 1984 Los Angeles Games: Today, Retton continues to encourage others as a motivational speaker and active member of the Children’s Miracle Network. As founder of Mary Lou’s Weigh, Retton spreads the message of healthy weight loss and a balanced nutrition with a reinvented bathroom scale—one that never shows the starting weight.
Retton continues to support the gymnasts in the Olympics, posting a congratulatory Instagram for the Final Five.
2. Greg Louganis, Gold Medals in Diving at 1984 Los Angeles Games and 1988 Seoul Games: Louganis was diagnosed with AIDS and retired in 1989. It wasn’t until the mid-90s that he announced he was HIV-positive. Since then, Louganis has been an outspoken advocate for HIV awareness and LGBT equality. As for this year’s Olympics, Louganis made his way to Rio to enjoy the games in person.
3. Kerri Strug, Gold Medal in Gymnastics at 1996 Atlanta Games: Strug, who gained the gold after doing the vault with a sprained ankle, lives in Arizona, and welcomed her first son in March. She does public relations for USA Gymnastics, speaking regularly at events and attending the Games on behalf of sponsors.
And you know she’s watching the Olympics this year.
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4. Dominique Dawes, Gold Medal in Gymnastics at 1996 Atlanta Games: President Barack Obama appointed her and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees as co-chairs of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. Dawes is also the co-host for Yahoo! News Weekend Edition.
Dawes is currently watching the Olympics with her daughter.
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5. Kristi Yamaguchi, Figure Skating at 1992 Albertville Games: The athlete writes children books and has a workout clothing line, Tsuya brand. Of course, Kristi is supporting the Rio Games and has tweeted her excitement.
6. Charlie White, Silver Medal in Figure Skating at 2010 Vancouver Games: We might actually see White hit the ice again as he’s been practicing and thinking of returning with partner Meryl Davis. Until that moment, though, White continues to root on Team USA on Twitter.
7. Meryl Davis, Silver Medal in Figure Skating at 2010 Vancouver Games: And if White really wants to return to the Olympics, Davis is open to it. But right now she’s too busy watching the Rio Games.
BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images
8. Jordyn Wieber, Gold Medal in Gymnastics at 2012 London Games: Wieber is a psychology student at UCLA. In 2015, she announced her retirement from gymnastics on Derek Jeter‘s website, “The Players Tribune.” She now serves as a team manager for the Bruins’ gymnastics team and continues to root on the US gymnastics team.
THE FINAL FIVE ARE OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS!!!!! GO USA!!!!!
— Jordyn Wieber (@jordyn_wieber) August 9, 2016
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9. Kyla Ross, Gold Medal in Gymnastics at 2012 London Games: Ross recently announced her retirement from elite gymnastics. However, she just enrolled at UCLA, where she is a member of the gymnastics team, which means a reunion with former teammate Wieber!
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10. Aly Raisman, Gold Medals in Gymnastics at 2012 London Games and 2016 Rio Games: Um, we all know where Aly’s been. KILLING IT AT THE OLYMPICS. Please just watch the video below for reference.
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11. Gabby Douglas, Gold Medals in Gymnastics at 2012 London Games and 2016 Rio Games: Like Aly, Gabby returned to the Olympics to snag the gold again. Aside from gymnastics, Gabby had what may be every girl’s dream come true by getting a Barbie doll made after her.
THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images
12. McKayla Maroney, Gold Medals in Gymnastics at 2012 London Games: Maroney announced her retirement from elite gymnastics. She has now turned her attention to being an Instagram star, with more than a million followers. She is also an aspiring actor and singer, and has been rooting on the gymnastics team on Twitter and Instagram.
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13. Nastia Liukin, Gold Medal in Gymnastics at 2008 Beijing Games: The retired gymnast is wedding planning after getting engaged to boyfriend Matt Lombardi last year. She also released her autobiography Finding My Shine in 2015. Now, she’s supporting her girls competing in Rio on Twitter.
LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images
14. Shawn Johnson, Gold Medal in Gymnastics at 2008 Beijing Games: Johnson retired from gymnastics in 2012, and went on to compete in Dancing With the Stars, where she came out on top, yet again, snagging the Mirrorball Trophy with partner Mark Ballas. She’s now married to Andrew East and enjoying the games at Rio.
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15. Alicia Sacramone, Silver Medal in Gymnastics at 2008 Beijing Games: Sacramone is currently the second-most decorated American gymnast in World Championship history, with ten medals under her belt, but all of that takes a backseat to her newest title—mommy. Sacramone gave birth just in time for this year’s Opening Ceremonies.