Olympic Legend Mary Lou Retton, 55, 'Fighting For Her Life' in ICU
Mary Lou Retton
Five-time Olympic medalist Mary Lou Retton is reportedly "fighting for her life" in the intensive care unit amid a scary battle with a rare form of pneumonia.
Her daughter, McKenna Kelley, revealed the news in an Instagram Story on Tuesday, Oct. 10, while sharing the link to a *spotfund fundraiser page on behalf of her mom, 55.
"Hey everyone! On behalf of my sisters and I, we need y’all’s help," Kelley wrote, adding, "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," Kelley continued of the former athlete, noting that her mom has been in the ICU "for over a week now."
"Out of respect for her and her privacy, I will not disclose all details," she wrote. "However, I will disclose that she is not insured."
As a result, Kelley and her family are asking for help in order to pay for Retton's hospital bill.
"ANYTHING, absolutely anything, would be so helpful for my family and my mom," Kelley wrote, also urging people to pray for the gymnastics legend.
"Thank y’all so very much!" Kelley added.
Retton, a West Virginia native, is known for her history-making gymnastics accomplishments, including becoming the first American woman to win the all-around gold in the 1984 Summer Olympics. She also won two silver medals and two bronze medals that same year.
Following her retirement in 1986, Retton was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997. She later became the first woman to be selected into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame in 2020.
Retton—who also appeared as a celebrity on season 27 of Dancing With the Stars—is now being cheered on by fans in the comments of her fundraiser page, as she remains hospitalized with a serious medical condition.
"Hang in there, girl. It's time to pull a 10 in this competition. You can do it," one support wrote, while tons of other users are "praying for a speedy recovery" for Retton.
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