Olympic Gold Medalist Mary Lou Retton Back Home From ICU After ‘Pretty Scary’ Pneumonia Battle

Five-time Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton is on her way to recovery after she was hospitalized in an intensive care unit in early October due to a battle with pneumonia.

McKenna Kelley, one of Retton’s four daughters, provided an Instagram update on her mother’s condition.

“Mom is home [and] in recovery. We still have a long road of recovery ahead of us, but baby steps,” she said. “We are overwhelmed with the love and support from everyone. Grateful doesn’t scrape the surface of the posture of our hearts.”

“Thank you, Jesus, thank you doctors [and] nurses, thank you to this loving community of support,” she finished off the post. 

During Retton’s time in the ICU, her family created a Spotfund Account.

After it was revealed Retton did not have medical insurance, the account, which set a goal of $50,000, raised up to $460,000 to help cover Retton’s medical expenses.

Her release from the hospital comes only a few days after her daughter, Shayla Kelley Schrepfer, said that her mother had suffered a “pretty scary setback.”

At the age of 16, Retton became the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. She also won two silver medals and two bronze medals and was named Sportswoman of the Year in 1984.

Retton is currently based in Houston.