Mary Lou Retton, one of the most iconic and beloved athletes in American history, is currently fighting for her life in an intensive care unit due to a rare form of pneumonia. The 55-year-old gymnast, who won a historic gold medal in the individual all-around competition at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, has been in the hospital for over a week and is unable to breathe on her own, according to her daughter McKenna Kelley.
A gymnastics legend
Mary Lou Retton was born on January 24, 1968, in Fairmont, West Virginia. She was inspired by watching Nadia Comăneci, the Romanian gymnast who scored the first perfect 10 in Olympic history, at the 1976 Montreal Games. She started training in her hometown and then moved to Houston, Texas, to train under Bela and Marta Karolyi, Comăneci’s former coaches who had defected to the United States.
Under their guidance, Retton quickly rose to national and international prominence in the early 1980s. She won the American Cup three times in a row from 1983 to 1985 and became the national champion in 1984. She also competed in several international events, such as the World Championships and the Friendship Games, where she won medals and earned recognition.
However, her greatest achievement came at the 1984 Olympics, where she became the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal in gymnastics. She also won two silver medals (team and vault) and two bronze medals (uneven bars and floor exercise), making her the most decorated athlete of the Games. She achieved this feat despite having undergone arthroscopic surgery on her knee just six weeks before the Olympics.
Retton’s performance captivated millions of viewers and made her an instant celebrity. She was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, Time, and Newsweek magazines, as well as on a Wheaties cereal box. She was also named Sports Illustrated’s Sportswoman of the Year and The Associated Press’ Female Athlete of the Year in 1984. Mary received numerous awards and honors, such as the James E. Sullivan Award, the Babe Zaharias Award, and the Flo Hyman Award. She was also inducted into several halls of fame, including the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, and the National Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame.
She retired from gymnastics in 1986 at the age of 18. She remained active in various fields, such as sports commentary, motivational speaking, charity work, and endorsements. She also made appearances in movies, television shows, and commercials. She was a spokesperson for several brands and organizations, such as Texaco, Vidal Sassoon, McDonald’s, General Mills, Revlon, and the Children’s Miracle Network.
Mary Lou Retton Personal Life
Retton married Shannon Kelley, a former quarterback for the University of Texas and a Houston real estate developer, in 1990. They had four daughters: Shayla (born 1995), McKenna (born 1997), Skyla (born 2000), and Emma (born 2002). All of them followed their mother’s footsteps and became gymnasts. McKenna was a collegiate gymnast at Louisiana State University and competed at the NCAA Championships.
Mary Lou Retton and Kelley divorced in February 2018 after 27 years of marriage. Retton revealed this news during her participation in Dancing with the Stars later that year. She said that it was one of the hardest things she had ever gone through but that she was trying to move on with her life.
On October 10, 2023, Retton’s daughter McKenna posted on Instagram that her mother was critically ill with a rare form of pneumonia and that she had been in the ICU for more than a week. She asked for prayers and donations to help with her mother’s medical bills. She said that her mother was not insured and that they were facing a huge financial burden.
A summary of facts
Here is a table that summarizes some of the facts about Mary Lou Retton:
| Full name | Mary Lou Retton |
| Date of birth | January 24, 1968 |
| Place of birth | Fairmont, West Virginia |
| Height | 4 ft 9 in (145 cm) |
| Weight | 93 lb (42 kg) |
| Discipline | Women’s artistic gymnastics |
| Club | Karolyi Gym |
| Coaches | Bela Karolyi, Marta Karolyi |
| Olympic medals | Gold (all-around), silver (team, vault), bronze (uneven bars, floor exercise) |
| Other medals | Gold (American Cup x3), silver (World Championships team), bronze (World Championships vault) |
| Awards and honors | Sports Illustrated Sportswoman of the Year, AP Female Athlete of the Year, James E. Sullivan Award, Babe Zaharias Award, Flo Hyman Award, etc. |
| Halls of fame | International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, etc. |
| Spouse | Shannon Kelley (m. 1990; div. 2018) |
| Children | Shayla Kelley, McKenna Kelley, Skyla Kelley, Emma Kelley |
| Current condition | In ICU with a rare form of pneumonia |
| @marylouretton | |
| Homepage | factynews.com |
A conclusion
Mary Lou Retton is a gymnastics legend who made history at the 1984 Olympics and became one of the most popular and beloved athletes in America. She had a successful career and a personal life that was filled with achievements and challenges. She is now facing a serious health crisis that has put her life in danger. She needs the support and prayers of her fans and friends to overcome this difficult situation. She is a fighter and a survivor who has inspired millions of people with her courage and determination. She deserves to be remembered and honored as one of the greatest gymnasts and women of all time.
