The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee pledges its support to Mary Lou Retton.
In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, the organization said it is working to “expedite” financial assistance for the Olympic gold medalist, who is battling a rare form of pneumonia and is uninsured, her family said earlier this week.
“When we learned of Mary Lou’s condition, we took immediate steps to expedite the application process for her family to receive assistance,” the USOPC said in a statement. “We are currently working on the necessary details in real time and have reached out to Mary Lou’s family to offer our assistance.”
The statement continued, “Mary Lou Retton was an incredible icon and source of inspiration in the American Olympic movement. Her groundbreaking achievements, particularly as the first American woman to win a gold medal in gymnastics, left an indelible mark on the sport’s landscape. Retton’s relentless spirit, drive and dedication continue to inspire countless athletes across the country, embodying the true spirit of the Olympic Games.”
The statement concluded: “We all hold her in our hearts during this challenging time and hope she makes a full recovery. Our thoughts and best wishes are with her and her family. We know that if anyone can overcome challenges with strength and grace, this is Mary Lou.”
Mary Lou Retton’s daughter breaks news, says ex-Olympian ‘still fighting’
On Tuesday, Retton’s daughter McKenna Kelley was the first to share the news of her mom’s health in a post on her Instagram Story, which included a link to a Spotfund fundraising page.
“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 intensive care 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.”
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Since posting the fundraising page, the family has been overwhelmed with support from fans around the world, they said.
As of Friday morning, the campaign had raised just over $400,000.
Retton shares McKenna, as well as daughters Shayla, Emma and Skyla with ex-wife Shannon Kelley.
The daughters are rallying around their mom amid her health crisis, oldest daughter Shayla Kelley Schrepfer told PEOPLE earlier this week.
DWTSSasha Farber says he texted Mary Lou Retton while she was in intensive care, telling her to ‘fight harder than ever’
“Our number one concern is our mom’s well-being,” Schrepfer said. “Having said that, being with her is our first priority.”
In an Instagram video Wednesday, Schrepfer added that her mom is “still fighting” and showed her appreciation for the outpouring of love.
“My sisters and I are devastated — devastated,” Shrepfer said. “We didn’t realize that there were so many people out there who loved her as much as we did and that it was a very difficult time for our family.
She added: “And to see people love her like that, to show her that support, it just meant the world to us and to her, so thank you.”
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