A household name, Mary Lou Retton made history as a gymnast for Team USA at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. Her incredible vault and floor routines earned her gold medals and cemented her place in American sports history. She was later named Sports Illustrated’s Female Athlete of the Year and appeared on Wheaties boxes.
Recently, Retton’s daughter, McKenna Kelly, shared heartbreaking news on Instagram. The gymnastics legend is currently fighting for her life in the ICU due to a “very rare form of pneumonia” that leaves her unable to breathe on her own. Kelly mentioned that Retton has been under the care of dedicated medical staff for over a week.
Out of respect for Retton’s privacy, Kelly declined to share more details but revealed that her mother is uninsured, and hospital bills are mounting. To ease the financial burden, Kelly set up a fund and humbly appealed for “prayers and financial contributions.”
Retton retired from gymnastics in 1986 but continued to appear in public, with guest roles on shows like Glee, Baywatch, and Dancing with the Stars. Inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, her impact on the sport endures.
