Mary Lou Retton Fighting for Her Life in Intensive Care Unit After Contracting Rare Pneumonia

Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton is in the intensive care unit of a hospital, fighting a “very rare form of pneumonia,” according to her daughter McKenna Kelley. Kelley took to social media to ask for prayers and donations for her mother, who is currently unable to breathe on her own.

Kelley posted a statement on a crowd-funding page on Tuesday, asking for help on behalf of her and her sisters. She wrote that her mother is “fighting for her life” and is in critical condition. Another daughter of Retton’s confirmed the illness to NBC News.

Retton is a Hall of Fame gymnast who won the gold medal in the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. She is 55 years old and the details of her illness and treatment have not been shared.

The family is asking for prayers and donations to help Retton in her fight against the rare pneumonia. Kelley’s post has been shared widely on social media, with many sending their support and well-wishes to Retton and her family.

The family has not released any updates on Retton’s condition since Kelley’s initial post. They are asking for privacy during this difficult time.