Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton, 55, is currently in the intensive care unit, battling a rare form of pneumonia. The shocking news was shared on her daughter, McKenna Kelley’s Instagram Story, where she also posted a link to a Spotfund page dedicated to her mother’s medical expenses.
“My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life. She is not able to breathe on her own. She’s been in the ICU for over a week now. Out of respect for her and her privacy, I will not disclose all details. However, I will disclose that she’s not insured,” read Kelley’s heartfelt message on the fundraising page.
In her plea for support, Kelley urged people to “PRAY!” and help with financing her mother’s hospital bill. The fundraiser has set a goal of $50,000, which has been much surpassed just days later.
Mary Lou Retton is an iconic figure in the world of gymnastics. Her historic achievements at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles made her the first American to win an individual all-around gold medal. Remarkably, she accomplished this feat despite having undergone knee surgery only weeks before the Games. Retton’s near-perfect performances on the floor and vault secured her victory, with a margin of just 0.05 points over Romania’s Ecaterina Szabo. Her Olympic journey also included silver medals in the vault and team event, as well as bronze medals in the uneven bars and the floor exercise.
Post-Olympics, Retton was named “Sportswoman of the Year” by Sports Illustrated and graced the iconic Wheaties box. In 1985, she claimed victory in the American Cup all-around competition for the third time before retiring in 1986.
Beyond her gymnastics career, Mary Lou Retton remained a prominent figure in the entertainment world, with appearances in movies and television shows like Glee, Baywatch, Knot’s Landing, and Naked Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult. She also competed on the 27th season of Dancing with the Stars.
In recognition of her monumental contributions to the sport, Retton was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997. Additionally, she had a park and street named after her in her hometown of Fairview, West Virginia.
Mary Lou Retton shares four daughters with her ex-husband Shannon Kelley: Shayla, Skyla, Emma, and McKenna. Interestingly enough, McKenna followed in her mother’s footsteps and pursued a gymnastics career, representing Louisiana State University.To learn more about her situation, check out the video below.
As the world awaits updates on Mary Lou Retton’s condition, the outpouring of support and prayers continues for the gymnastics legend who has played a pivotal role in inspiring countless individuals throughout her life.
If you’d like to show support in any way, check out the Spotfund page here.
