The gymnastics champion sprang to stardom at the 1984 Olympics, where she became the first American woman to win a gold medal in the all-around competition. Her family is raising money online, saying she lacks health insurance.
May Lou Retton at the 1984 Olympics, where she won five medals.
Mary Lou Retton, who became one of the most popular athletes in the country after winning the all-around women’s gymnastics competition at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, has pneumonia and is “fighting for her life” in the intensive care unit, her daughter said in a statement this week.
Retton’s daughter McKenna Lane Kelley said on Instagram that her mother “is not able to breathe on her own” and that she had been in the intensive care unit for more than a week.
Kelley asked for donations to help pay for her mother’s hospital bills, saying her mother lacked health insurance. By Wednesday, she had raised more than $260,000 online from more than 4,600 donors.
She did not share more specific information about her mother’s condition, though she said that her pneumonia was “a very rare form.” It was not clear what hospital Retton was in.
Kelley, who was a gymnast at Louisiana State University, did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, another daughter, Shayla Kelley Schrepfer, released a video on Instagram thanking people for “all the love and support that you’ve given to my mom.”
“She’s still fighting,” Schrepfer said. “It’s going to be a day-by-day process, and we hope that you guys will respect her boundaries, as we want to keep the details between her and our family right now. She has been treated with the best of the best professionals here, and it has been such a blessing to have their hands on her.”
At the 1984 Olympics, Retton became the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal or any individual Olympic medal in gymnastics. Going into the final rotation of the competition, she was five-hundredths of a point behind Romania’s Ecaterina Szabo, and the only way she could beat Szabo was to score a perfect 10 on vault.
Retton scored a perfect 10.
She won five medals in Los Angeles, including two silvers, for team and vault, and two bronzes, for uneven bars and floor exercise.
Though there was an asterisk by Retton’s victory in the history books — the Soviet Union, which was the most dominant force in women’s gymnastics at the time, boycotted the 1984 Games — it nonetheless made her a sports hero in the United States. In addition to earning her the traditional trappings of Olympic gold, like appearing on a Wheaties box, she was widely viewed as an inspiration to a new generation of American girls entering gymnastics.
Even as the American gymnastics program grew and the country won more medals, including the team gold in 1996, Retton’s prominence remained: For 20 years, Retton, now 55, was the only American woman to win the all-around title, until Carly Patterson became the second in 2004.
Retton was born in Fairmont, W.Va., and got her start early, like many top gymnasts. By the time Retton was 7 years old, she was training in gymnastics full-time.
Retton’s talent had been apparent from the start, but a big break came at an Olympics elimination tournament in Reno, Nev., in 1982, where she impressed Bela Karolyi, who would go on to coach her in the 1984 Olympics.
“I immediately recognized the tremendous physical potential of this little kid,” Karolyi said in a March 1984 interview.
Retton appeared in a number of films and TV shows in the late 1980s and 1990s, including the comedy film “Scrooged.”
After her athletic career, Retton became a motivational speaker to promote the benefits of proper nutrition and regular exercise.
Husband Chooses First Class with His Mom—Wait Until You Hear His Wife’s Epic Revenge
My husband, Clark, booked first-class tickets for himself and his mom, leaving me and our kids in economy. But I wasn’t going to let that slide. I made sure his “luxury” flight came with some turbulence, turning the trip into a lesson he wouldn’t forget.
I’m Sophie, and Clark is one of those workaholics who thinks his job is the most important thing in the world. I get it, he works hard, but being a mom isn’t a walk in the park either! So, here’s what happened.
We were going on a family vacation, and Clark booked our tickets. When we got to the airport, I realized he and his mom were flying first class, while I was left with the kids in economy. I felt embarrassed and angry that he didn’t think of me or the kids.
Instead of sulking, I decided to make things uncomfortable for him. I sent the kids up to first class every few minutes. “Go ask Daddy for a snack,” or “Tell Grandma you want to sit with her.” The kids didn’t stop, and soon, Clark’s peaceful flight turned into chaos. His first-class luxury wasn’t so relaxing anymore.
By the end of the flight, Clark wasn’t as smug. Lesson learned: if you’re going to leave your wife and kids in economy, don’t expect a smooth flight!
Oh boy, was I wrong.
As we got to the airport, I asked Clark where our seats were, juggling our toddler and a diaper bag in the chaotic airport. Clark was busy on his phone, barely looking up. “Oh, about that…” he mumbled.
I felt uneasy. “What do you mean, ‘about that’?”
He finally looked up, giving me a sheepish grin I’ve learned to dread. “Well, I managed to upgrade me and Mom to first class. You know how she is on long flights, and I really need to rest.”
Wait, just the two of them? I stared at him, waiting for a joke that didn’t come.
“Let me get this straight. You and your mother are in first class, and I’m in economy with both kids?”
Clark shrugged like it was no big deal. “Oh, come on, it’s just a few hours, Soph. You’ll be fine.”
Then his mom, Nadia, showed up with her designer luggage, smiling. “Oh, Clark, are we ready for our luxurious flight?” She smirked at me, and I swear I could have melted from her gaze.
They left me with the kids and walked off to enjoy their first-class experience. But I wasn’t going to let it slide. As I boarded with the kids, a plan began forming in my mind. This flight was about to get interesting.
When we got to our seats, I noticed the difference between first class and economy immediately. There they were, already sipping champagne while I struggled with our luggage. My five-year-old wanted to sit with Daddy, but I had to explain that “Daddy and Grandma are in a special part of the plane.”
The kids were settled, and I noticed something important—I had Clark’s wallet. Earlier, at the security checkpoint, I had quietly taken his wallet out of his bag without him noticing. I smiled to myself. This was going to be fun.
Two hours into the flight, the kids were asleep, and I was enjoying the quiet. I saw the flight attendants serving gourmet meals in first class. Clark was ordering expensive dishes and top-shelf liquor, indulging in every luxury.
Soon after, I saw Clark frantically searching his pockets. He had realized his wallet was missing. The flight attendant stood there, waiting for him to pay. Clark tried to explain that he couldn’t find his wallet, but the flight attendant wasn’t having it.
Watching this unfold from economy was like my own private show. A flight attendant came by to offer me something, but I just asked for water and some popcorn, ready to enjoy the rest of the drama.
Clark came down to economy, looking worried. He crouched next to my seat and whispered, “Soph, I can’t find my wallet. Do you have any cash?”
I pretended to be concerned. “Oh no! That’s terrible. How much do you need?”
“About $1,500,” he said, wincing.
I nearly laughed out loud. “What did you order, the entire menu?”
“It doesn’t matter,” he whispered, panicking. “Do you have it or not?”
I rummaged through my purse. “I’ve got $200. Will that help?”
He took the cash but looked desperate. “Maybe your mom has her credit card?” I suggested sweetly.
Clark went pale. He realized he would have to ask his mom for help. His perfect first-class experience was completely ruined.
For the rest of the flight, Clark and his mom sat in stony silence. Meanwhile, I enjoyed my economy seat with a sense of satisfaction.
As we were landing, Clark made one last trip to economy. “Sophie, are you sure you haven’t seen my wallet?”
I put on my best innocent face. “No, honey. Maybe you left it at home?”
Clark was frustrated, running his hands through his hair. “This is a nightmare.”
“Well,” I said, “at least you got to enjoy first class, right?”
He glared at me. “Yeah, real enjoyable.”
After the flight, Clark was sour, muttering about his missing wallet. His mom disappeared into the bathroom, avoiding the tension. I suggested he might have left it in first class, which didn’t improve his mood.
As we left the airport, I felt a little giddy. I still had his wallet and planned to treat myself to something nice before returning it. A little revenge never hurt anyone.
So, if your partner ever tries to upgrade themselves and leave you behind, a bit of creative payback might just be what you need. After all, in the journey of life, we’re all in this together—whether in first class or economy!
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