--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For six years, I kept my five Olympic…" description: "\"For six years, I kept my five Olympic medals wrapped in a plastic bread bag beneath my bed.\" — Mary Lou Retton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6e/mary-lou-retton-14694_bags_for-six-years-i-kept-my-five-olympic-med_1904437.jpg" --- # For six years, I kept my five Olympic medals wrapped in a… ![“For six years, I kept my five Olympic medals wrapped in a plastic bread bag beneath my bed.” quote by Mary Lou Retton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6e/mary-lou-retton-14694_bags_for-six-years-i-kept-my-five-olympic-med_1904437.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6e/mary-lou-retton-14694_bags_for-six-years-i-kept-my-five-olympic-med_1904437.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6e/mary-lou-retton-14694_bags_for-six-years-i-kept-my-five-olympic-med_1904437.jpg) > “For six years, I kept my five Olympic medals wrapped in a plastic bread bag beneath my bed.” [Mary Lou Retton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-retton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She hid her Olympic medals under her bed, reflecting modesty and personal connection to achievement. **In simple terms:** She kept medals hidden under her bed. Key Takeaway Value personal meaning over public display. Themes humility achievement memory Mood reflective nostalgic Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - athlete memoir - family conversation Key Concepts self-worth symbolic objects Questions to Reflect On - Why keep treasured items private? - How does modesty affect self‑esteem? A Different Perspective May hide achievements from others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bread](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bread/) [Medal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medal/) [Medals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medals/) [Olympic medals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympic-medals/) [Olympics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olympics/) ## Related quotes > [Nations should show their countries strength/power through winning medals.Not war medals but Olympic medals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehde-h-choudhury/nations-should-show-their-countries-strength-power-through-winning/) Mehde H Choudhury > [More than 10,000 athletes came to Atlanta seeking Olympic medals. Only a few of them will be lucky and skilled enough to claim one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-retton/more-than-10-000-athletes-came-to-atlanta-seeking-olympic-medals-only/) [Mary Lou Retton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-retton/) > [If I'd gone into taekwondo, I'd probably have won several Olympic medals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zlatan-ibrahimovic/if-i-d-gone-into-taekwondo-i-d-probably-have-won-several-olympic/) [Zlatan Ibrahimovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zlatan-ibrahimovic/) > [Olympic medals are the one medal that I don't have; I've won just about every other competition that I've been at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-shanteau/olympic-medals-are-the-one-medal-that-i-don-t-have-i-ve-won-just/) [Eric Shanteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-shanteau/) > [We can't all win Olympic medals. Even I never won one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-williams/we-can-t-all-win-olympic-medals-even-i-never-won-one/) [Esther Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-williams/) > [In para-cycling I am a veteran with Olympic medals now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-zanardi/in-para-cycling-i-am-a-veteran-with-olympic-medals-now/) [Alex Zanardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-zanardi/) > [In college, I was an education major and qualified for several jobs. But the fame that came with the Olympic medals was too threatening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/in-college-i-was-an-education-major-and-qualified-for-several-jobs/) [Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/) > [“They don’t give Olympic medals out for talking a good game.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-backley/they-don-t-give-olympic-medals-out-for-talking-a-good-game/) [Steve Backley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-backley/) > [On television, I have watched countless athletes from different countries, sports and Olympics stand proudly at the top of the podium and shed tears.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-kearney/on-television-i-have-watched-countless-athletes-from-different/) [Hannah Kearney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-kearney/) > [We have had no bonuses for winning Olympic medals, I haven't even had a call from the ABA. I was on assisted performance funding,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-degale/we-have-had-no-bonuses-for-winning-olympic-medals-i-haven-t-even-had/) [James DeGale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-degale/) > [Like Olympic medals and tennis trophies, all they signified was that the owner had done something of no benefit to anyone more capably than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/like-olympic-medals-and-tennis-trophies-all-they-signified-was-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The potential for greatness lives within us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilma-rudolph/the-potential-for-greatness-lives-within-us-all/) [Wilma Rudolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilma-rudolph/) > [Curling is not a sport. I called my grandmother and told her she could win a gold medal because they have dusting in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/curling-is-not-a-sport-i-called-my-grandmother-and-told-her-she-could/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [I never got into MMA to be famous, I got into it to compete and pursue athletic aspirations. They were my pure intentions. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lindland/i-never-got-into-mma-to-be-famous-i-got-into-it-to-compete-and-pursue/) Matt Lindland > [You can't start out at 20 in whatever your profession is and say, "I want to win an Olympic medal," or "I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/you-can-t-start-out-at-20-in-whatever-your-profession-is-and-say-i/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) ## More by Mary Lou Retton > [I usually don't mind giving autographs, but when hundreds of folks with paper and pen start coming at you, it's time to seek shelter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-retton/i-usually-don-t-mind-giving-autographs-but-when-hundreds-of-folks/) [Mary Lou Retton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-retton/) > [Even though it may seem counterintuitive, a comfort zone is a dangerous place to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-retton/even-though-it-may-seem-counterintuitive-a-comfort-zone-is-a/) [Mary Lou Retton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-retton/) > [Former Olympians also get paid to make appearances. Many of them won their medals in an era when Olympic success didn't go hand-in-hand with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-retton/former-olympians-also-get-paid-to-make-appearances-many-of-them-won/) [Mary Lou Retton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-retton/) > [I love her attitude, but as much as I'd like to bring my medals to a speech or appearance, I never do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-retton/i-love-her-attitude-but-as-much-as-i-d-like-to-bring-my-medals-to-a/) [Mary Lou Retton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-retton/) > [As much time as you put into it, that's what your achievements are going to be when you come out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-retton/as-much-time-as-you-put-into-it-that-s-what-your-achievements-are/) [Mary Lou Retton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-retton/) > [Working hard becomes a habit, a serious kind of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-retton/working-hard-becomes-a-habit-a-serious-kind-of-fun/) [Mary Lou Retton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-retton/) > [Working hard becomes a habit, a serious kind of fun. 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Only a few of them will be lucky and skilled enough to claim one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-retton/more-than-10-000-athletes-came-to-atlanta-seeking-olympic-medals-only/) [Mary Lou Retton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-retton/) > [As simple as it sounds, we all must try to be the best person we can: by making the best choices, by making the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-retton/as-simple-as-it-sounds-we-all-must-try-to-be-the-best-person-we-can/) [Mary Lou Retton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-retton/) > [Rather then focusing on the obstacle in your path, focus on the bridge over the obstacle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-retton/rather-then-focusing-on-the-obstacle-in-your-path-focus-on-the-bridge/) [Mary Lou Retton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-retton/) > [I'm very determined and stubborn. 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No case is ever truly closed, and no challenge is ever over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-lou-retton/erase-the-word-failure-from-your-vocabulary-no-case-is-ever-truly/) [Mary Lou Retton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-retton/) [Explore all 45 Mary Lou Retton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-lou-retton/) ## More Bags quotes > [Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/why-couldn-t-jesus-command-us-to-obsess-over-everything-to-try-to/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [I love Christopher Bailey and Burberry, Mulberry for bags, and Hudson for jeans. 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It's serious, tough stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/politics-is-not-bean-bags-it-s-serious-tough-stuff/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I like bags that are easy to wear and are pretty to look at. But I don't like them when they have no space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-dellal/i-like-bags-that-are-easy-to-wear-and-are-pretty-to-look-at-but-i-don/) [Alice Dellal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-dellal/) > [I drive a Prius. I always turn my faucets off. I never use plastic bottles anymore. I use glass bottles. I bring my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brooke-d-orsay/i-drive-a-prius-i-always-turn-my-faucets-off-i-never-use-plastic/) Brooke D'Orsay > [Then there are some minor points that strike me as suggestive - for instance, the position of Mrs. Hubbard's sponge bag, the name of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/then-there-are-some-minor-points-that-strike-me-as-suggestive-for/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [It was a mind-blowing experience, it really was-absolutely an awesome thing. . . . As I got to the top I released a bag…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-was-a-mind-blowing-experience-it-really-was-absolutely-an-awesome/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You know the best thing about aeroplanes? Apart from the peanuts in little silver bags, I mean. 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