Mary Lou Retton, a renowned U.S. gymnast and Olympic gold medalist, is currently in a critical condition in an intensive care unit, battling a rare type of pneumonia. This information was shared by her daughter, McKenna Kelley, through a spotfund account. Kelley revealed that her mother has been in the ICU for more than a week, struggling to breathe independently.
Kelley, in her post, described her mother’s condition as a fight for life due to the uncommon pneumonia she has contracted. However, she refrained from sharing more details, respecting her mother’s privacy. She did disclose that Retton, unfortunately, does not have insurance coverage. Kelley concluded her post with a plea for prayers for her mother.
Retton, 55, is a celebrated figure in American gymnastics, with her most significant achievements dating back to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. During the Summer Games that year, she bagged five medals, including a gold in the individual all-around competition, making her the first American woman to do so.
In addition to her gold medal, Retton also won two silver and two bronze medals in the same year. Her remarkable performance at the Summer Games earned her the title of Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated in 1984.
After retiring from her successful gymnastics career, Retton ventured into the entertainment industry, appearing in several films and TV shows. Some of her notable appearances include a 1993 episode of “Baywatch” and the 1994 film “Naked Gun 33 ¹/₃: The Final Insult”. She also served on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports during George W. Bush’s presidency.
Retton’s contributions to gymnastics have been recognized with several honors. She was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997 and became the first woman to be inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame in 2020. She was also inducted into the National Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
In her hometown of Fairmont, West Virginia, Retton’s achievements are commemorated with a street and park named in her honor.