Basic Information
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Emma Jean Kelley (now Clark) |
| Birth Date | June 2002 |
| Age (as of 2025) | 23 years old |
| Birthplace | Houston, Texas |
| Height | 5 feet 2 inches |
| Education | University of Arkansas, Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management (Graduated May 2024) |
| Occupation | Former Collegiate Gymnast, Hospitality Enthusiast |
| Marital Status | Married to Hudson Clark (June 29, 2025) |
| Known For | Being the daughter of Olympic icon Mary Lou Retton; her own gymnastics career |
Early Life and Gymnastics Roots
Picture this: a bustling household in Richmond, Texas, where the air hums with the energy of four athletic sisters, each chasing their dreams like comets across the sky. Emma Jean Kelley entered the scene in June 2002, the baby of the bunch, born to Mary Lou Retton—that pint-sized powerhouse who snagged the first American all-around gold at the 1984 Olympics—and Shannon Kelley, the former University of Texas quarterback whose gridiron grit added another layer to the family’s competitive DNA. Growing up, Emma wasn’t just handed a legacy; she embraced it, starting her gymnastics journey young, hitting Level 10 status by 2016 at Fun & Fitness Gymnastics. It’s like she was scripted for the mat—vaulting, flipping, balancing—with highlights that included a fourth-place all-around finish at the 2016 Texas State Championships, scoring a crisp 9.800 on vault and 9.675 on floor.
But life threw in some plot twists early on. Her parents’ divorce in February 2018, after over two decades together, could have been a fumble, yet the family stayed tight-knit, like a well-rehearsed routine. Emma’s maternal grandparents, Ronnie and Lois Retton, provided that steady anchor—Ronnie, especially, often popping up in those warm family anecdotes as the supportive patriarch. I love how Emma channeled that resilience into her sport, competing in invitationals like the Kurt Thomas and Star Struck events in 2019. Initially committed to LSU, she pivoted to the University of Arkansas in 2019, a move that felt like destiny—aligning her with the Razorbacks, where she’d major in Hospitality Management, blending her love for travel and events with her athletic prowess.
Family Ties: The Kelley Clan Up Close
Ah, the Kelleys—they’re like the Avengers of athletics, each sibling bringing their superpowers to the family dynamic. Let’s break it down, because Emma’s story shines brighter when you see the full ensemble. First up, the oldest sister, Shayla Kelley Schrepfer, born in April 1995. She’s the trailblazer who traded gymnastics for acrobatics and tumbling at Baylor University, where she met her husband, Wyatt Schrepfer, a former football player. They tied the knot in January 2020, and fast-forward to February 11, 2025, when they welcomed son Sullivan Wyatt—making Mary Lou a grandma with that extra glow. Shayla’s all about that fitness life now, competing in NPC Bikini Shows and dropping motivational YouTube videos, often with shoutouts to her mom that hit right in the feels.
Then there’s McKenna Lane Kelley, born April 1997, the gymnastics prodigy who lit up LSU with four All-American honors before graduating with a psychology degree in 2019. She’s settled in Baton Rouge as a realtor, married to Braden Doughty since September 2024. McKenna’s shared how her mom was hands-on but never pushy—quotes like, “She let us find our own path,” that remind me of those empowering scenes in “Little Women,” where sisters uplift each other. Skyla Brae Kelley, the third in line from August 2000, took a different route with high school cheerleading and a Texas Tech degree in 2023, complete with sorority vibes. She became a mom in July 2024, delivering Mary Lou’s first grandchild—a daughter whose arrival sparked joyful family posts amid the chaos.
And Emma? She’s the glue, the one who rounds out this quartet with her quiet determination. Her bond with dad Shannon shines through—he walked her down the aisle in 2025—and her grandparents, Ronnie and Lois, add that generational depth, like wise elders in a epic saga. The family’s faced storms together, from Mary Lou’s rare pneumonia battle in October 2023, where the sisters rallied with ICU updates and holiday photos, to more recent headlines. But through it all, they’ve emerged stronger, a testament to that unbreakable Retton-Kelley spirit.
Career Highlights and Beyond the Mat
Emma’s career? It’s a montage of dedication, personal bests, and those small victories that build character. At Arkansas, she didn’t compete as a freshman in 2021—building anticipation like a slow-burn thriller—but debuted sophomore year in 2022, nailing eight vault appearances, two on bars, one on floor, with a standout 9.800 vault against Ohio State. Junior year in 2023 brought her peak: a 9.825 vault personal best versus Minnesota, plus three appearances that showed her growth. By senior year in 2024, she exhibited in three meets, including a poignant Senior Night on vault and floor. Numbers tell part of the story—those scores climbing like a hero’s arc—but Emma went deeper, raising awareness for The Reynolds Cancer House and NWA Children’s Hospital, turning her platform into something meaningful.
Post-graduation in May 2024, she’s eyed hospitality gigs, perhaps dreaming of event planning that echoes her travels. And let’s not forget that 2023 leotard collection collab with her mom—sparkly designs that screamed family synergy. Financially, whispers put her net worth around $22.8 million in 2025, up from $13.7 million in 2021, though that feels like Hollywood exaggeration for a 23-year-old fresh out of college. Compared to Mary Lou’s estimated $2 million from endorsements and speaking, Emma’s path seems more about passion than paychecks—yet who knows what ventures await?
Personal Milestones and Recent Whispers
Fast-forward to romance: Enter Hudson Clark, the University of Arkansas football safety who caught Emma’s eye in January 2021. Their story? Pure rom-com material—they met on campus, dated through the highs and lows, got engaged on June 28, 2024, at Flippen Park in Texas, with a joint Instagram post gushing about faith and forever. The very next day, June 29, 2025, they said “I do” at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, in a summer floral-themed bash with 184 guests. Emma stunned in a strapless Jenny Yoo gown, sisters as bridesmaids, dad escorting her down the Crape Myrtle Allee aisle. The reception at Rosine Hall? Sun-dried tomato chicken, a cake mimicking the Razorbacks stadium—Mary Lou’s toast sealing the deal. They’ve hinted at a big family down the line, but plan to savor the newlywed phase first.
Of course, life’s not all fairy tales. The wedding buzz overlapped with family headlines—Mary Lou’s May 2025 DUI arrest in Fairmont, West Virginia, after erratic driving in her Porsche. Bodycam footage from July showed failed sobriety tests; she pleaded no contest in June, issuing a remorseful apology. It sparked online chatter about finances, especially post her 2023 health scare, but Emma’s posts stayed positive—faith, travels, Razorbacks pride on her @emmajeanclark_ Instagram, boasting 58K followers. No major gossip shadows Emma herself; she’s the steady one, flipping forward with grace.
FAQ
Who is Emma Jean Kelley’s famous parent?
Emma is the youngest daughter of Mary Lou Retton, the 1984 Olympic all-around gold medalist, and Shannon Kelley, a former University of Texas quarterback—they divorced in 2018 but remain supportive co-parents.
What was Emma’s gymnastics career like?
She achieved Level 10 status in 2016, competed collegiately at the University of Arkansas from 2021 to 2024 with personal bests like 9.825 on vault, and collaborated on a leotard line with her mom in 2023.
How many siblings does Emma have?
Emma has three older sisters: Shayla (born 1995, a bodybuilder and mom), McKenna (born 1997, former LSU gymnast and realtor), and Skyla (born 2000, Texas Tech grad and new mom).
When did Emma get married?
She married Hudson Clark on June 29, 2025, in a floral-themed ceremony at the Dallas Arboretum, following their engagement the day before—they met in 2021 at university.
What challenges has the family faced recently?
In 2023, Mary Lou battled rare pneumonia in ICU, with the daughters providing updates; in 2025, she faced a DUI arrest, pleading no contest and apologizing publicly amid family milestones.
What’s Emma’s educational background?
She majored in Hospitality Management at the University of Arkansas, graduating in May 2024, blending her interests in travel and events with her athletic pursuits.
