1984
Sports Illustrated Sportswoman of the Year
Associated Press Female Amateur Athlete of the Year
Women’s Sports Foundation Athlete of the Year
American Academy of Achievement Award
1985
USOC Olympic Hall of Fame (first gymnast and youngest inductee, one of 96 athletes who are members)
World Almanac “25 Most Influential Women”
1986
NCC Citizen of the Year
1990
NCC Citizen of the Year
1992
Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame (youngest inductee)
Special Advisor, President’s Council on Physical Fitness
Official White House Delegate, Summer Olympics
1993
AP National Survey “Most Popular Athlete in America”
1994
‘Mary Lou Retton Award’ created by US Olympic Comm.
Fitness Magazine’s “25 Fittest People in the World”
1995
Flo Hyman Award
1998
Official White House Delegate, Winter Olympics
2000
Humanitarian Hall of Fame Recipient
2002
Ellis Island Medal of Honor Recipient
2004
Ms. Sportsman Award (first in its history)
2005
Texas Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
2006
Member of President’s Council on Physical Fitness
2007
USA Today #1 Most Memorable Olympic Moment in the past 25 years
2008
West Virginia Hall of Fame