Mary Lou Retton is “fighting for her life” in intensive care with a rare form of pneumonia, her daughter said Tuesday.
McKenna Kelley, daughter of the Olympic gold medalist, shared the news in a post on her Instagram Story that included a link to a Spotfund page dedicated to her 55-year-old mom.
“My amazing mum, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life,” she wrote in a message on the fundraising page. “She can’t breathe on her own. She’s been in ICU for over a week. Out of respect for her and her privacy, I won’t reveal all the details. But I will reveal that she’s uninsured.”
“Please if you can help in any way please 1) PRAY! and 2) if you can help us with the finances for the hospital bill,” Kelley continued.
The fundraising goal is $50,000, and by Tuesday, 109 donors had contributed nearly $8,000.
Mary Lou Retton competes on the beam at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Jerry Cooke /Sports Illustrated via Getty
Retton is one of the most famous names in the global sport of gymnastics. She made history at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles by becoming the first American to win a gold medal in the individual all-around.
Despite undergoing knee surgery just weeks before the Games, she recorded perfect 10s on floor and vault to edge Romania’s Ecaterina Szabo by 0.05 points. Retton also took home silver medals on vault and team competition, as well as bronze medals on bars and floor.
1984 Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton says Simone Biles is ‘greatest gymnast ever’
After her Olympic triumph, Retton was appointed Sports Illustratedis the “athlete of the year” and featured on a Wheaties box.
In 1985, she won the America’s Cup all-around competition for the third time before retiring in 1986.
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Mary Lou Retton appeared on the 27th season of ‘Dancing with the Stars’.
David Livingston/Getty
After her gymnastics career ended, Retton remained in the spotlight, starring in movies and TV shows including joy, Baywatch, Knot’s Landing and Bare Gun 33+1⁄3: The Final Insult. She also competed in the 27th season Dancing with the stars.
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Retton was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997. She also had a park and street named after her in her hometown of Fairview, West Virginia.
She and ex-husband Shannon Kelley have four daughters: Shayla, Skyla, Emma and McKenna, the latter of whom followed in her mom’s footsteps and competed as a gymnast for Louisiana State University.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education