The Olympic gold medalist has been hospitalized for over a week with a life-threatening condition, according to her family.
A Rare and Serious Illness
Mary Lou Retton, the first American woman to win the individual all-around gold medal in gymnastics at the 1984 Olympics, is battling a rare form of pneumonia that has put her in the intensive care unit for more than a week. Her daughter, McKenna Kelley, revealed the news on Tuesday in an Instagram story, along with a link to a fundraising page to help with medical expenses.
“My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life,” Kelley wrote on the page. “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 is not insured.”
Kelley, who followed in her mom’s footsteps and competed as a gymnast for Louisiana State University, asked for prayers and donations from the public. “ANYTHING, absolutely anything, would be so helpful for my family and my mom,” she wrote. “Thank y’all so very much!”
An Outpouring of Love and Support
The fundraiser has surpassed its initial goal of $50,000 and has raised over $300,000 as of Wednesday afternoon. More than 4,000 donors have contributed to the cause, including some celebrities and fellow gymnasts. Linda McIngvale, the wife of Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, donated $50,000. Nastia Liukin, the 2008 Olympic all-around champion, donated $5,000. Simone Biles, the most decorated gymnast of all time, donated $1,000.
The donations were accompanied by heartfelt messages of love and support for Retton and her family. “GET WELL MARY LOU!! You are America’s Sweet Heart and we are all rooting for you!” one donor wrote. “Sending love and prayers to Mary Lou and her family. She is an inspiration to so many,” another donor wrote.
Retton’s daughters also expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the overwhelming response from the public. On Wednesday, Kelley posted an update on Instagram, saying that her mom “continues to fight” and is getting “incredible medical care” from the doctors and nurses. She also thanked everyone for the “outpouring of love and support” for their mom.
A Legacy of Excellence and Inspiration
Retton is widely regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time. She made history at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles by becoming the first American to win an individual all-around gold medal in gymnastics. She also won two silver medals and two bronze medals at the same games. She retired from gymnastics in 1986 at the age of 18.
Since then, she has been involved in various endeavors related to health, fitness, and motivation. She has appeared in several films and TV shows, such as Scrooged, Baywatch, and Dancing with the Stars. She has also served on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under former President George W. Bush. She was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997.
Retton has also been a supportive and proud mother of four daughters: Shayla, McKenna, Skyla, and Emma. All of them have been involved in gymnastics or cheerleading at some point in their lives. In January 2020, Retton’s daughters had the honor of inducting their mom into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame, making her the first woman to ever receive the honor.
“Mom we are so so proud of you, and will ALWAYS be cheering you on!” Shayla wrote on Instagram at the time.
