Olympic gymnastics champion Mary Lou Retton is currently in intensive care in a Texas hospital due to pneumonia. Her daughter, McKenna Kelley, shared this distressing news in an Instagram post. Retton, who gained worldwide recognition as the first American woman to win the Olympic all-around title, is facing a severe health challenge, with an inability to breathe on her own.
Fundraising Campaign for Medical Expenses
In response to her mother’s medical condition, Kelley initiated a fundraising campaign to support Retton’s medical expenses. Olympic gymnastics champion Mary Lou Retton is in intensive care with pneumonia. Notably, Retton does not have medical insurance at the moment.
A Storied Olympic gymnastics champion
Mary Lou Retton’s illustrious gymnastics career began at a young age, culminating in her iconic performance at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. At the age of 16, she secured the all-around gold medal, a historic achievement. Her success at the 1984 Olympics extended to two silver and two bronze medals, contributing significantly to elevating gymnastics’ popularity in the United States.
Mary Lou Retton: An Olympic Pioneer
Retton’svictory in the all-around competition at the 1984 Olympics marked a historic milestone for American gymnastics. She needed a perfect 10 on vault to beat her Romanian rival, Ecaterina Szabo, and her remarkable performance clinched not only the all-around gold but also five medals in total, including two silvers and two bronzes. Retton scored consecutive perfect 10s on the floor exercise and vault to win the individual all-around gold medal at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games.
Although the Soviet Union boycotted the 1984 Games, Retton’s triumph made her a national sports hero. Her achievement resonated with aspiring young gymnasts and served as an inspiration for American girls entering the sport. For two decades, she was the sole American woman to win the all-around title until Carly Patterson’s victory in 2004.
A Symbol of American Excellence
Although the Soviet Union boycotted the 1984 Games, Retton’s triumph made her a national sports hero. Her achievement resonated with aspiring young gymnasts and served as an inspiration for American girls entering the sport. For two decades, she was the sole American woman to win the all-around title until Carly Patterson’s victory in 2004.
Early Beginnings and the Guidance of Bela Karolyi
Mary Lou Retton, who was born in Fairmont, West Virginia, began her gymnastics career at a young age. She was already training full-time at the age of seven. Her talent was obvious from the outset, but her big break came in 1982, when Mary Lou Retton drew the attention of famous coach Béla Károlyi (an ethnic Hungarian Romanian-American gymnastics coach) in an Olympics elimination tournament in Reno, Nevada. Béla Károlyi would later coach her at the 1984 Olympics.
Beyond Gymnastics
After her athletic career, Retton transitioned into the world of entertainment, appearing in various films and TV shows in the late 1980s and 1990s, including the “Scrooged” is a 1988 American Christmas fantasy comedy comedy film . She also became a motivational speaker, advocating for proper nutrition and regular exercise as essential elements of a healthy lifestyle.
After retiring from gymnastics, Mary Lou Retton became a board member of USA Gymnastics. She faced controversy for supporting the organization during the Larry Nassar sexual assault case. In 2017, USA Gymnastics declined to testify in front of a Senate Judiciary Committee but, instead, Mary Lou Retton went with USA Gymnastics officials to meet privately with Senator Dianne Feinstein to discuss the organization’s policies for protecting athletes from sexual abuse.
The gymnastics world and fans around the globe are undoubtedly sending their well wishes and support to this iconic Olympic champion during her challenging health battle.
