In the world of Gymnastics, Mary Lou Retton is a well-known name. The athlete etched her name in the sport’s history after becoming the first American woman to win an Olympic medal all-around gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics. Having retired from her gymnastics career since 1986, the athlete is currently suffering from rare pneumonia. The 55-year-old athlete is currently in the ICU. Sadly, she has not been able to breathe on her own for a while now.

Following this news, 7,000 fan’s prayers have been answered now. The athlete’s daughter shared a heartwarming update on Instagram. According to Shayla Schrepfer, the gymnastics legend is still fighting on but has improved over time.

Mary Lou Retton’s daughter shares an Update

On 14th October, Mary Lou Retton’s daughter rekindled fan’s hopes with a heartwarming update. According to a post shared by Shayla Schrepfer, “Mom’s (Mary Lou) progress is truly remarkable! Prayers have been felt and have been answered. According to Shayla, Lou is still in the ICU, “but her path to recovery is steadily unfolding. Her fighting spirit is truly shining. Her breathing is becoming stronger, and her reliance on machines is diminishing.”

Furthermore, while showing her heartfelt gratitude towards the love and support received from the gymnast’s fans, Shayle added, “Though it’s a lengthy journey, witnessing these improvements is incredibly heartwarming! She’s responding well to the treatments.”

This news comes after Mary Lou Retton’s family set up a funding page for the athlete. As of 14th October, 7,791 people have raised $420,790 for the the gymnast. Apart from the support from the fans worldwide, Retton also received a heartfelt message from her former teammate. In an interview, Michelle Dusserre Farrell discussed the bond she shares with the gymnast.

Michelle Dusserre shows her support

In the 1984 Olympics, Michelle Duserre and Mary Lou joined the forces of Pam Bileck, Tracee Talavera, Kathy Johnson, and Julianne McNamara to clinch silver in the team competition. Intriguingly, since creating history on the soil of Los Angeles, the athletes seem to share a heartfelt bond. “Our team has had a sister-like bond and we know firsthand how strong she is.” stated Dusserre while showing her support for her gymnastics sister in these difficult times.

Also read: ?In My Thoughts & Prayers?: As Mary Lou Continues to Fight for Life, Former Olympian?s Heartfelt Message for the Legendary Gymnast Goes Viral

With the support of her fans and former teammates, Mary Lou Retton continues to showcase her strength. Now, the fans hope to receive another relieving update from the gymnastics legend’s family.

Watch this story: As Simone Biles and Michael Phelps’ Work Towards Mental Health, Another Rising Gymnast Breaks Silence on Self-Care in Sports