Olympic gold medallist Mary Lou Retton, a cherished native of West Virginia, is fighting a valiant battle with pneumonia that has sent her to the intensive care unit, where she is desperately clinging to life. The legendary gymnast, renowned for her accomplishments and inspirational path, is currently going through a trying time and could use some help and prayers.
McKenna Kelley, Mary Lou Retton’s daughter, has started a *spotfund in response to the concerning news regarding her mother. The intention is to shed light on her mother’s present state of health.Retton has been battling pneumonia for over a week, according to Kelley, and is unable to breathe on her own. As a result, she is in critical care. Kelley hasn’t disclosed any more information out of respect for her mother’s privacy. She has, however, disclosed a heartbreaking fact: Mary Lou Retton is uninsured.
Kelley has appealed to well-wishers in an emotional Instagram story, saying, “Please consider helping our family out, and most importantly, please continue to pray.”
Mary Lou Retton’s extraordinary adventure started in her hometown of Fairmont, West Virginia. During the Los Angeles Summer Olympics in 1984, she inscribed her name in Olympic history. She stunned everyone by getting two perfect 10 scores in the vault and floor competitions, just weeks after having knee surgery.
Not content to stop there, Mary Lou Retton made Olympic history in those same games. She became the first gymnast from the United States to win the coveted all-around gold medal. She outperformed every other competitor that year and won two silver and two bronze medals for her outstanding performance.
Apart from her gymnastic accomplishments, Mary Lou Retton also dabbled in television and film, making appearances as herself in shows like “Scrooged,” “Baywatch,” and “Knots Landing,” as her IMDb profile details. During President George W. Bush’s administration, she was a distinguished member of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports because of her love for physical fitness. She has also accepted a number of positions as an Olympic and gymnastics ambassador.
Mary Lou Retton is cherished by her fellow West Virginians and is considered one of the state’s most renowned athletes. A park and a road in Fairmont, her hometown, are named in her honor as a proud monument to her legacy. The overwhelming amount of love, prayers, and well wishes she has received is evidence of the significant influence she has had on people’s lives as well as the sports world. Her accomplishments and unwavering spirit are greatly admired.
