Who is Mary Lou Retton? 84 Olympic gold-winning gymnast who dies in ICU of freak pneumonia at 55

In 1984, Mary Lou Retton became a heroine of American rhythmic gymnastics when she won her country’s first gold medal in the individual all-around at the Los Angeles Olympics, a feat she achieved despite having just undergone knee surgery five weeks before the event.

Retton is now 55 and, according to the Olympics’ official website, is still remembered by hundreds of people as the woman who won two silver and two bronze medals on that occasion, although her name is now back in the news due to her deteriorating health.

Who is Natasha Coates and what does she have? The British athlete “allergic to strong emotions” was hospitalized more than 500 times

Mary Lou Retton and her unusual case of pneumonia

According to People magazine, McKenna Kelley, the gymnast’s daughter, has announced that her mother is life-threatening due to a rare case of pneumonia.

“She can’t breathe on her own. She’s been in intensive care for over a week,” the young woman revealed via the Spotfund website, where she asked for prayers and donations for Mary Lou Retton, who needs $50,000 for treatment and has no health insurance.

On the other hand, the Olympic medalist’s other daughter, Shayla Kelley Schrepfer, said that she is “still fighting” and that she was being cared for by the best professionals thanks to “all the love and support” her mother received from some internet users, according to The The New York Times.

Alaís Perea, in sports gymnastics, wins the fourth gold medal at the Bolivarian Games

“We didn’t even realize that there are so many people who love her as much as we do,” the young woman pointed out in her post. “It meant a lot to us and to her.”

(AND)