Best Woman Athlete by Birth State

Despite being born with hip dysplasia and suffering from arthritis throughout her career, Mary Lou Retton was the first female gymnast outside of Eastern Europe to win the Olympic all-around title, doing so in 1984. She also won four additional medals in the same Olympics, including a silver in team competition and the horse, and bronze in the floor exercise and uneven bars. For her Olympic performance, she was named Sports Illustrated's ''Sportswoman of the Year'' and also was the first female to grace a Wheaties box.

Worthy of consideration: Vicky Bullett, Christy Martin and Mary Ostrowski