Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast Mary Lou Retton Is ‘Fighting For Her Life’ in ICU, ‘Not Able to Breathe on Her Own’

Mary Lou Retton on the balance beam March 5, 1984. (AP Photo)

One of the daughters of gold-winning Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton shared on social media that her mother is “fighting for her life” with a rare form of pneumonia.

McKenna Kelley, one of Retton’s four daughters, posted in an Instagram Story that Retton was in the ICU and “not able to breathe on her own.” Kelley also disclosed that her mother did not have health insurance, so a Spotfund page was set up with the following message:

Hey everyone! On behalf of my sisters and I, we need y’all’s help.

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 not insured.

We ask that if you could help in any way, that 1) you PRAY! and 2) if you could help us with finances for the hospital bill.

ANYTHING, absolutely anything, would be so helpful for my family and my mom. Thank y’all so very much!

As of the writing of this post, funding has exceeded the proposed amount of $50,000 and has reached over $264,000 from 4,624 donors. Kelley posted another message of thanks on her Instagram page.

Retton became a household name during the 1984 Olympics when she was the first American winner of an all-around gymnastics gold medal. Her triumph led her to icon status when her likeness was put on the Wheaties box. At the same event, she took home silver medals for the vault and team event, as well as a bronze medal for the uneven bars.

Retton retired from gymnastics in 1986 and went on to do some acting appearances as well as  a stint on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. And she was all too happy to pass the champion gymnast torch when she called fellow decorated Olympic medalist Simone Biles “the greatest gymnast ever.”

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