Conference starts at Assembly Hall
Speeches by Mary Lou Retton, Linda Ellerbee mark first day of conference

by Jennie Korb
Daily Illini reporter

The Daily Illini Feminist author Naomi Wolfe speaks during the Biennial Conference for Working Women: 2000 Solutions at Assembly Hall Thursday.

Peering over the podium just inches shorter than she and looking much the same as she did when she won the gold medal for gymnastics at the 1984 Olympic Games, Mary Lou Retton delivered the first speech at the Biennial Conference for Working Women with an enthusiasm and stage presence that more than made up for her small stature.

Retton was part of a day of free massages, keynote speakers, a quarter-mile of interactive exhibits and snacks from five themed cafes at Assembly Hall Thursday, the first day of the two-day conference.

Nearly every seat in Assembly Hall was occupied during Retton's speech, in which she focused on what it takes to be a champion and how the principles used by athletes striving to be champions, such as consistency, experience and preparation, can be used to become a champion in any field.

Retton said she left her home in a small coal-mining town at age 14 to train for the Olympic team in Houston after being discovered by coach Bela Carolyi. She went from being the only elite gymnast in West Virginia to being the fifth or sixth best in her gym.

She said she felt that it was important for her to try, because if she did not, she would have always wondered if she could have succeeded. She also felt that it was important for her to step outside of her comfort zone.

"We spend most of our lives in a comfort zone, avoiding risks and avoiding the unknown. The people who can get out of that comfort zone and still perform are the people who become champions," she said.

The Daily Illini Mary Lou Retton takes a moment to think during an interview Thursday at Assembly Hall.

Retton also talked about her swift recovery from knee surgery just six weeks before the 1984 Olympic Games.

"They gave me six weeks and a bad knee, and I said I can do it," Retton said.

She completed three months of rehabilitation exercises in just three and a half weeks, and by the time she arrived in Los Angeles for the Games, she was ready.

Retton talked about what went through her mind as she was preparing to compete in the vault after having already received perfect scores in every other event. The score she had to beat was a 9.95. She said that she could have shared her gold medal if she had tied, but she knew if she got a perfect 10, she would have it all to herself. She laughed and made a reference to her children.

"Mommy's not a real good role model on sharing," Retton said.

Retton has two daughters, ages 3 and 5, and she is about six months pregnant with their third child. She said that she has to make the effort to balance her work and her family life.

"When I'm home, I don't answer the phone from 4:00 to 7:30," she said. During those hours, she eats with her family during playtime, storytime and bedtime.

"To me, there's nothing that's so important that it can't wait until later or the next day," she said.

The youngest of five children, Retton said that although she has been an American icon for nearly 16 years, when she goes home she is no different than the rest of her family.

"I wouldn't want it any other way," she said.

Bonita Vail, an employee of the University's Office of Student Financial Aid, said she enjoyed hearing Retton speak.

"She was the highlight," Vail said. "She motivates you to try harder than you think you really can."

Throughout the day, attendees visited the quarter-mile Inter/Expo concourse, carpeted and decorated especially for the occasion and featuring a number of exhibits by companies showcasing their products in an interactive manner.

"We thought this was a chance for us to talk to a large segment of women, primarily businesswomen," said Bob Tobin, marketing manager for CellularOne.