Skyla Brae Kelley, born August 18, 2000, is the daughter of Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton and former NFL quarterback Shannon Kelley. She graduated from Texas Tech University in 2023 with a Communication and Media Studies degree. Currently a cheerleading coach and social media influencer with an estimated $1 million net worth, she welcomed her first child in July 2024.
Born August 18, 2000, Skyla Brae Kelley is the youngest daughter of Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton and former NFL quarterback Shannon Kelley. She graduated from Texas Tech University in 2023 with a degree in Communication and Media Studies. Today, she works as a cheerleading coach and social media influencer with an estimated net worth of $1 million. In July 2024, she welcomed her first child, making Mary Lou Retton a grandmother for the first time.
Growing Up in an Athletic Dynasty
Skyla was born in Houston, Texas, into a family where sports excellence wasn’t optional. Her mother, Mary Lou Retton, made history at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics by becoming the first American woman to win the all-around gymnastics gold medal. That perfect 10.0 vault score didn’t just win her the title—it defined a generation.
Her father, Shannon Kelley, played quarterback for the Texas Longhorns before joining the Houston Gamblers in the USFL. After his football career ended, he earned an MBA from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. He now works as an account manager with NETSYNC.
Skyla shares her parents with three older sisters: Shayla Rae Kelley (born 1995), McKenna Lane Kelley (born 1997), and Emma Jean Kelley (born 2002). While Shayla and McKenna pursued competitive gymnastics, Skyla chose cheerleading—carving her own path within the family’s athletic tradition.
Education and Athletic Career
Skyla attended Second Baptist School in Houston before enrolling at Texas Tech University. During both high school and college, she competed as a cheerleader—not following in her mother’s gymnastics footsteps but creating her own athletic identity.
At Texas Tech, she studied Communication and Media Studies. She joined a sorority and balanced academics with athletics. The combination prepared her for her current career, blending coaching and social media.
She graduated in 2023, marking the start of her professional journey.
Coaching the Next Generation
After graduation, Skyla transitioned into coaching young cheerleaders. She draws from her own competitive experience to mentor athletes. Her coaching style emphasizes technical skill alongside mental toughness—lessons learned from growing up in a family that valued both talent and discipline.
The role allows her to stay connected to sports while developing leadership skills. She focuses on building confidence in young athletes, teaching them that success requires consistent effort.
Building a Social Media Presence
Skyla has built a substantial following as a fitness and lifestyle influencer. Her content includes workout routines, nutrition tips, and glimpses into her personal life. She shares practical advice that resonates with followers looking to improve their fitness.
Her approach is authentic rather than polished. She posts about real challenges, not just highlight reels. This transparency has helped her connect with an engaged audience.
Her Communication and Media Studies degree gave her the tools to understand audience engagement and content strategy. She knows how to create content that educates while entertaining.
Family Through Crisis
In October 2023, Mary Lou Retton was hospitalized with a rare form of pneumonia. She spent over a month in intensive care, unable to breathe without assistance. Her daughters—including Skyla—rallied around her during the health crisis.
The family launched a crowdfunding campaign that raised over $500,000 for medical expenses. Mary Lou was uninsured at the time, making the financial burden significant.
By late October 2023, Mary Lou returned home but faced a long recovery. As of 2024, she still requires supplemental oxygen daily. The illness remains medically unexplained—doctors call it a rare form of pneumonia but can’t determine its exact cause.
The crisis brought the Kelley family closer. Skyla witnessed her mother’s resilience firsthand—a trait that now shapes her own approach to challenges.
Personal Milestones
Skyla has been in a relationship with Thomas Pourr since April 2023. The couple shares moments on social media, giving followers a window into their life together.
In July 2024, Skyla welcomed her first child—a daughter. The news thrilled Mary Lou Retton, who chose the grandmother nickname “LouLou.” She told reporters she plans to “spoil the heck out of” her granddaughter.
Motherhood adds another dimension to Skyla’s already full life. She’s now balancing coaching, content creation, and raising her daughter.
Just weeks after Skyla gave birth, her older sister Shayla announced her own pregnancy in August 2024. She’s expecting her first child in February 2025. The two cousins will be just seven months apart in age.
The Kelley Sisters
Each of Mary Lou Retton’s daughters chose different paths while maintaining close family bonds:
Shayla Kelley Schrepfer (29) married Wyatt Schrepfer in 2020. She competed in gymnastics at LSU before transitioning to other pursuits. She’s active on social media and maintains a YouTube channel.
McKenna Lane Kelley (27) competed as an elite gymnast, representing the U.S. at international competitions before attending college.
Emma Jean Kelley (22) followed her sisters’ athletic legacy by competing as a student-athlete at the University of Arkansas. She graduated in May 2024.
The sisters supported their mother during her health crisis, with McKenna initially sharing the news publicly to request help for medical expenses.
Financial Success
Skyla’s estimated net worth sits around $1 million—earned through multiple income streams. Her coaching brings steady income while her social media presence provides additional revenue through partnerships and sponsored content.
Her degree in Communication and Media Studies positioned her to understand content monetization. She knows which platforms work best for different types of content and how to build sustainable partnerships with brands.
The combination of coaching expertise and digital savvy creates a career model many young athletes could follow.
Shannon Kelley: The Father’s Influence
Shannon Kelley’s athletic career began at the University of Texas, where he played quarterback for the Longhorns. He later joined the Houston Gamblers in the USFL during the league’s brief existence in the 1980s.
After football, he pursued an MBA and moved into coaching and business. Today, he works as an account manager with NETSYNC, a technology services company.
Shannon and Mary Lou divorced in 2018 after 27 years of marriage. Despite the split, both parents remained involved in their daughters’ lives—a fact that became especially clear during Mary Lou’s 2023 health crisis.
Lessons from Legacy
Skyla grew up watching her mother handle fame with grace. Mary Lou’s Olympic success made her a household name in the 1980s—but she remained grounded while raising four daughters.
That example shaped Skyla’s approach to her own growing platform. She shares her life online but maintains boundaries. She posts about fitness and family without oversharing private details.
The balance between public and private life is something many influencers struggle with. Skyla’s family background gave her a blueprint for managing attention while protecting what matters most.
Looking Forward
At 24, Skyla stands at the beginning of what could be a long career in coaching and content creation. She has the education, athletic background, and family support to build something lasting.
Her approach—blending traditional coaching with modern social media—represents how fitness professionals can reach larger audiences. She’s not abandoning personal training for purely digital work. She’s combining both to maximize impact.
As her daughter grows, Skyla will likely share insights about balancing motherhood with career ambitions. That content will resonate with other young mothers navigating similar challenges.
Her story proves you don’t have to follow the exact path your parents took to honor their legacy. You can create something new while respecting where you came from.
Conclusion
Skyla Brae Kelley built a career that honors her family’s athletic tradition while embracing modern opportunities. She coaches young athletes, creates fitness content, and now raises her daughter—all while staying connected to her roots.
Her journey shows that children of famous parents can forge their own identities without rejecting their heritage. She’s not Mary Lou Retton’s daughter trying to be Mary Lou Retton. She’s Skyla Brae Kelley—a coach, influencer, and mother with her own story to tell.