Did you know that December 21st is National Short Girl Appreciation Day?  Ever since 1984, one of America's favorite short girls has been Olympic gold medal gymnast Mary Lou Retton.

At the age of just 16, Retton became the first Anerucab woman to ever win the gold medal in all-around gymnastics competition at theOlympics. She also won two silver medals, and two bronze medals.

Her boundless energy and infectious smile made her one of America's most famous, and most beloved, athletes.

I met her in the spring of 2000, when she wrote a motivational book on how to achieve happiness in life.