Mary Lou Retton is known for her gold-winning success during the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. She won five medals and became the first American in history to win the all-around gold in Olympic gymnastics. However, last fall, she was hospitalized and was fighting for her life with pneumonia. Surrounded by her four daughters, they were unsure she would make it. However, she made it and spoke with Deidre Behar from Entertainment Today with an update on her health, sharing some exciting and happy news.
Behar starts the interview by asking Mary Lou, “What is the state of your health right now?” She responds, “Well, I’m obviously still on oxygen.” As you can see, she is attached to it during the interview. “I’m tired of this thing up my nose,” she laughs. Mary Lou still has trouble breathing and getting enough breath to speak. “I haven’t been able to really work because I don’t know if I can get up on stage and do an hour-long talk as I’ve done for 40 years,” she says.
She talks about her recovery and shares about her lungs. They are unfortunately scared and are going to stay that way. She also recalls the time she spent in the hospital last fall. It was quite an emotional time for her whole family, even though she doesn’t remember it. She said, “They prayed over me and were about to put me on the ventilator, and I pulled through. I believe it’s the big man upstairs. He’s not ready for me up there.” Her daughters prayed over her and were prepared to say their goodbyes.”
It must have been a heartbreaking and emotional experience for all of them, but as Mary Lou says, God was there. It has been seven months since then, and the doctors still don’t know what is wrong. They are calling it a rare form of pneumonia, and she is somewhat of a medical mystery. Mary Lou Retton was hospitalized without health insurance. Behar asks, “How is one of our most beloved and treasured American iconic athletes without insurance?”
Mary Lou shares how her divorce in 2018 and COVID-19 impacted her ability to find work and led to her being without extra money and insurance. She also mentions that the height of her fame was years ago. And while she could make enough for her life and bills, the added financial stress was too much. Because of the financial stress, her daughter McKenna started an online fundraiser. Although there were some naysayers, they raised almost $500,000 from over 8,000 donors. The public stepped up to help their treasured hero.
The money will all go to medical bills, and anything left will be donated to the American Lung Association. Thankfully, Mary Lou is now insured and will be on supplemental oxygen for at least another year. She can walk a little, and has also been using treadmills and rowing machines.
Retton was nicknamed “America’s sweetheart” during her gold medal-winning performance at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles. She was just 16 when she scored perfect 10s in the floor exercise and vault in the final two rotations to become the first American woman to win the Olympic all-around title. She earned five medals that year – one gold, two silver and two bronze.
After she retired from gymnastics, Retton became a motivational speaker and frequently shared messages about the benefits of proper nutrition and exercise. She also served on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under former President George W. Bush.