Mary Lou Retton made history at the 1984 Summer Olympics becoming the first American woman to win the gold medal in the individual all-around competition.
Now, at age 55, Retton is fighting for her life in an ICU with a rare form of pneumonia. Retton’s daughter McKenna Kelley posted on Instagram the news and shared a message with a link to a Spotfund page: “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.” “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,” Kelley continued. There was a goal of $50,000, but as of this morning, the site shows they are nearing $192,000.
Retton went on to win 4 additional medals in the 1984 LA Olympics: 2 silver; in vault and team event, and 2 bronze; in the uneven bars and floor events. Retton won more medals (5) during that Olympics than any other athlete that year. Retton was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997. She also has a street and a park named after her in her hometown of Fairview, West Virginia. Since the ’84 Olympics, Retton did sports commentating, made cameos in movies and television shows as either a contestant or an actor.
Retton has four daughters, two of which took to gymnastics and reside in Texas.
We are all praying for Mary Lou!!
By - FZ
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