What Happened to Mary Lou Retton? Unraveling Her Courageous Journey Through Rare Pneumonia

With her incredible routines and commendable prowess, Mary Lou Retton became the first American gymnast to clinch the all-around gold at the 1984 Olympics. The icon not only transformed the narrative with her performances but also achieved the highest point in her cherished domain. Despite retiring from the sport long ago, her legacy continues to play a crucial role in contemporary gymnastics.

However, the 55-year-old legend who etched her name in the gymnastics arena, caught up with an uphill battle with a rare case of pneumonia. In the wake of which, she was admitted in the intensive care unit. Nevertheless, the gymnast fought it bravely and is now out of the danger zone. With this, the gymnast is now on the road to recovery.

What Happened to Sensational Gymnasts in Past Weeks

On the 10th of October, Retton’s daughter, McKenna Kelley took to her social media to reveal that her mother is fighting from a rare case of pneumonia, a condition that led to a life-threatening situation. While the specifics of Retton’s illness remained undisclosed, pneumonia, known for its potential severity, demanded hospitalization.

A few days later, it was announced by the Kelley family that they have no funds for hospital bills. Thus, a Spotfund campaign was initiated to cover Retton’s medical expenses. It has amassed significant support from over 8,000 donors, reaching $453,123 by late October. The rollercoaster of hope and setbacks unfolded.

On October 15, a glimmer of optimism emerged with news of Retton’s gradual recovery. However, the elation was short-lived. On October 18, Shayla Schrepfer, Retton’s eldest daughter, shared a poignant update on social media, detailing a “scary setback.”

She mentioned, “At the beginning of this week, we were going on the up and up, we were seeing so much progress, and then yesterday we had a pretty scary setback”. She further added, “really really tired”.

Despite initial progress, the family faced unexpected challenges, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the recovery journey. Now, here one question looms large, is Retton okay now?

How is an American gymnast & a mother of 4 doing now?

With all the prayers heard, the star is back with her family from the hospital. Though the nature of health is not that good, a sigh of relief ensures that the icon is no more in the “danger zone”. On a related note, a grateful gymnast on October 30, expressed her thankful note to the world. Retton took to her social media handle and added words of gratitude for the 87.9k Instagram family.

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According to E news, she penned, “I’m beyond blessed to have the opportunity to make this statement. I am overwhelmed with the love and support from the world as I fight. I am forever grateful to you all!. When the time is right, I will be sharing more information about my health issues.”

Moreover, her daughter extended heartfelt thanks to her supporters on 23rd October, stating, “Mom is HOME & in recovery mode. We still have a long road of recovery ahead of us, but baby steps.”

Both daughters expressed appreciation for the fans’ overwhelming support during this critical time. While the journey to complete recovery is underway, Mary Lou Retton, now out of intensive care, is back home, promising to keep the updates flowing as she embarks on the healing path.

1984 Olympics graceful memories of gymnastics legend

The great gymnastics legend’s journey started with her groundbreaking feat as the inaugural American to secure an individual all-around gold medal. She propelled her into stardom and graced the Wheaties box. At the 1984 Olympics, the US champ not only claimed the coveted gold in the women’s all-around but also bagged bronze on the uneven bars.

This benchmark introduces a new term to the sports fans “Retton Flip.” This move showcased her dynamic swing, forceful collision with the low bar, and a seamless front flip culminating in a seated position on the high bar.

In addition to this win, Retton clinched the all-around title by a razor-thin margin of 0.05 points. With this, she became the first American woman to seize the gold in the gymnastics olympics. It wasn’t a cakewalk. Her impressive haul from the 1984 Games included a team silver and a bronze in floor exercise. Mary Lou Retton’s legacy transcends medals; she’s a trailblazer who carved her place in gymnastics history.

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