Mary Lou Retton, a celebrated figure in U.S. Olympic history, is facing a severe health challenge as she battles a rare form of pneumonia, according to a statement from her daughter, McKenna Kelley, shared on her Instagram story. Kelley expressed the gravity of the situation, revealing that Retton is currently unable to breathe on her own and has been in the ICU for over a week.
In response to the challenging circumstances, the family has started accepting donations through a platform called *spotfund.
Mary Lou Retton is best known for her outstanding achievements in gymnastics, particularly winning the gold medal in the women’s gymnastics individual all-around competition at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. She was a trailblazer in American gymnastics, becoming the first American woman to secure the Olympic all-around title.
Her success at the 1984 Summer Games didn’t stop with the all-around gold medal. Retton also earned a silver medal in vault, bronze medals in uneven bars and floor exercise, and contributed to the United States winning a silver medal in the team competition.
Her remarkable accomplishments led to iconic moments like her appearance on a famous Wheaties cereal box. In addition to her gymnastics career, Retton made appearances as herself on various television shows and in movies, including “Scrooged” and “Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult.” Moreover, she took part in the 27th season of “Dancing With the Stars” in 2018.
As the news of Mary Lou Retton’s health struggle spreads, fans and well-wishers are keeping her in their thoughts and prayers.
