The Latest on Mary Lou Retton’s Ongoing Health Issues

Note: we are republishing this story which originally made the news in October 2023.

Mary Lou Retton Battles Pneumonia in ICU
Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton, a beloved West Virginia native, is fighting for her life after being hospitalized with severe pneumonia. The gymnastics legend is currently in the intensive care unit, struggling to breathe independently. Fans and well-wishers are urged to keep her in their thoughts and prayers.

Mary Lou Retton smiling with her arms folded and a gold medal around her neck, Photo Credit: marylouretton/Instagram
Mary Lou Retton smiling with her arms folded and a gold medal around her neck, Photo Credit: marylouretton/Instagram

Family Appeals for Support
Retton’s daughter, McKenna Kelley, created a Spotfund to update the public on her mother’s condition. According to Kelley, Retton has spent more than a week in intensive care. While respecting her mother’s privacy, Kelley revealed one significant detail: Retton does not have health insurance.

In a heartfelt Instagram story, Kelley appealed to supporters:
“Please consider helping our family out, and most importantly, please continue to pray.”

A Gymnastics Legend
Mary Lou Retton’s remarkable journey began in Fairmont, West Virginia. She made Olympic history during the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Just weeks after knee surgery, she stunned the world with two perfect 10 scores in the floor and vault events.

She also became the first American to win the all-around gold medal in gymnastics. That year, Retton added two silver medals and two bronze medals, outshining her competitors and solidifying her place in sports history.

Fundraising post for Mary Lou Retton’s pneumonia, Photo Credit: Spotfund
Fundraising post for Mary Lou Retton’s pneumonia, Photo Credit: Spotfund

Beyond the Gym
Retton’s influence extends beyond gymnastics. She appeared as herself in TV shows and movies, including Scrooged, Baywatch, and Knots Landing. Her passion for fitness led her to serve on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under George W. Bush. She has also served as an ambassador for the Olympics and gymnastics worldwide.

A Hometown Hero
Retton remains one of West Virginia’s most celebrated athletes. Fairmont honors her legacy with a park and a road named after her. The outpouring of support, prayers, and well-wishes from fans across the country reflects her profound impact—not just in sports, but on the lives of those inspired by her courage, dedication, and spirit.

Related Posts

“My Husband Left for a Business Trip — Minutes Later, My Six-Year-Old Whispered, ‘Mommy… We Have to Run. Now.’”

My husband Derek had just left for a business trip when my six-year-old daughter tugged my sleeve with trembling fingers and whispered words that would shatter everything…

My husband kissed my forehead and said, “France. Just a short business trip.”

My husband kissed my forehead and said, “France. Just a short business trip.” A few hours later, as I stepped out of the operating room, my heart…

My eight-year-old son was beaten nearly to death in his grandfather’s driveway while three grown men laughed and held him down.

My eight-year-old son was beaten nearly to death in his grandfather’s driveway while three grown men laughed and held him down. That sentence still does not feel…

Never Had To Speak Until One Day Everything Changed

Wyatt came downstairs with that half-smile he had been wearing since he was seventeen, the one that meant he had already decided how the room was going…

I Was the Only One at My Grandpa’s Funeral Until a General Saw His Ring and Asked Me One Question

The Quiet Man As told by his granddaughter My grandfather was the quietest person in every room he ever entered. Not shy, not withdrawn, not socially inept…

My Parents Threw Me Out at 16 Until Years Later They Came Begging Without Knowing Who I Had Become

The Inheritance I was staring at the email when I realized my hands were shaking. The message glowed on my monitor, framed by the wide glass walls…