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Latest News: Gymnastics Icon Mary Lou Retton Released from Hospital
Mary Lou Retton, the celebrated former gymnast, has been discharged from the hospital as she continues her recovery from a rare form of pneumonia that necessitated intensive care. Her daughter, McKenna Lane Kelley, announced on Instagram that Retton is now back home. “We still have a long road of recovery ahead of us, but baby steps,” Kelley shared. “We are overwhelmed with the love and support from everyone.”
Details regarding the timing of Retton’s hospitalization and discharge remain unclear. On October 10, Kelley disclosed that the 1984 Olympic gold medalist was “fighting for her life,” having spent over a week in the ICU and struggling to breathe independently. Four days later, Kelley reported significant progress in Retton’s condition; however, a subsequent setback required her return to intensive care.
In light of Retton’s medical situation, her family launched a crowdfunding campaign to assist with her medical expenses, as she does not have health insurance. As of October 24, the campaign had successfully raised nearly $460,000.
Who Is Mary Lou Retton?
Mary Lou Retton is a retired Olympic gymnast who gained international acclaim under the guidance of renowned Romanian coach Béla Károlyi. She first gained prominence with significant victories at the 1983 American Cup and the following year’s U.S. Nationals. At the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Retton made history by winning the gold medal in the women’s all-around gymnastics competition, achieving a perfect score on the vault. This remarkable achievement marked her as the first female gymnast outside of Eastern Europe to win the event. Known as “America’s Sweetheart,” she earned recognition as Sports Illustrated’s Sportswoman of the Year and concluded her Olympic career with a total of five medals. Following her retirement from gymnastics in 1986, Retton remained active in the sport as a commentator and has since become a sought-after spokesperson and motivational speaker.
Early Life
Mary Lou Retton was born on January 24, 1968, in Fairmont, West Virginia, to parents Ronnie and Lois Retton. Her father, a star athlete, led the West Virginia University basketball team to the 1959 NCAA finals and later pursued a career in professional baseball before establishing a coal-mining equipment company. As the youngest of five siblings—brothers Ronnie Jr., Donnie, and Jerry, and an older sister, Shari—Retton was inspired by the achievements of athletes in her family.
Her passion for gymnastics ignited after witnessing Romanian prodigy Nadia Comaneci’s historic performances at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, where Comaneci recorded seven perfect scores and won three gold medals. Retton began her gymnastics training at a local dance studio, but her family recognized the need for specialized instruction to help her reach her full potential.
In the early 1980s, Retton moved to Houston to train with Károlyi. Under his mentorship, she refined her technique to complement her strong, compact physique, ultimately winning prestigious competitions such as the 1983 American Cup and the 1984 U.S. Nationals.
Gymnastics Career and the 1984 Olympics
Entering the 1984 Olympics as one of the leading competitors, Retton faced an unexpected health crisis just six weeks prior to the event. After an exhibition routine in Louisville, Kentucky, she experienced a knee injury due to a detached piece of cartilage, necessitating arthroscopic surgery. Remarkably, she underwent the procedure and resumed training within days, stating, “We did three months of rehabilitation in two weeks.”
Retton’s determination paid off as she edged out Romania’s Ecaterina Szabo to secure the gold medal in the women’s all-around competition, achieving a perfect score of 10 in the vault—her final event. Additionally, she earned two silver and two bronze medals in individual and team competitions, making her the first woman outside Eastern Europe to claim the Olympic all-around title.
Her wholesome exuberance and achievements led to numerous commercial endorsements, including a feature on the front of a Wheaties cereal box. Retton celebrated her success with a breakfast hosted by President Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy, further solidifying her status as a national icon.
After winning her third consecutive American Cup title in 1985, Retton made the decision to retire at the age of 18 to focus on her education at the University of Texas. In recognition of her contributions to gymnastics, she was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997.
Ex-Husband and Children
In 1990, Retton married Shannon Kelley, a former quarterback for the University of Texas football team. The couple welcomed four daughters: Shayla (1995), McKenna (1997), Skyla (2000), and Emma (2002). Both Emma and McKenna pursued collegiate gymnastics, with Emma currently competing for the University of Arkansas and McKenna having competed for Louisiana State University.
Retton and Kelley divorced in 2018. That same year, she participated in Season 27 of the popular ABC reality competition Dancing with the Stars. She currently resides in Houston, Texas.
Net Worth
As of October 2023, Mary Lou Retton’s estimated net worth is $2 million, a figure attributable to her successful athletic career, lucrative endorsement deals, and public speaking engagements.
Health Problems and 2023 Hospitalization
Post-retirement, Retton faced significant health challenges, notably worsening hip pain. She later shared that her inability to engage in play with her children signaled serious concerns about her well-being. Diagnosed with hip dysplasia—an abnormal development of the hip joint from birth—Retton’s condition was exacerbated by the demands of her gymnastics career, leading to end-stage arthritis. In 2005, she underwent a total hip replacement.
By 2016, Retton had undergone 19 surgical procedures, including back surgery for a degenerative bone disorder.
In October 2023, her daughter McKenna announced that Retton had been hospitalized in the intensive care unit with a rare form of pneumonia that left her unable to breathe independently. A crowdfunding campaign was initiated to assist with her medical expenses. Despite a setback that briefly necessitated readmission to the ICU, Retton successfully returned home by October 23.