"It's going to be really weird when I'm 80 years old, in a walker, and people are still calling me America's sweetheart. We need a new one"

Mary Lou Retton's quote speaks to the idea of generational modification and the requirement for new role models. She is reflecting on the reality that she has been a precious figure in the general public eye for many years, but that eventually her time in the spotlight will pertain to an end. She is suggesting that it will be odd to still be referred to as "America's sweetheart" when she is 80 years old and in a walker, and that it is time for a brand-new generation of role models to take her location. This quote talks to the idea that change is unavoidable which it is essential to acknowledge when it is time to pass the torch to the next generation. It also speaks to the significance of having role models that are reflective of the current times which can motivate the next generation.