Decorated Olympian Mary Lou Retton was still fighting to overcome a rare form of pneumonia on Wednesday afternoon.
One of Retton’s daughters, McKenna Lane Kelley, wrote on a fundraiser earlier this week that her mother, a gold medal gymnast in the 1984 Olympics, was “fighting for her life” against the disease.
Kelley posted an update on her Instagram stories Wednesday.
“My sisters Skyla, Shayla, Emma and I would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support for our Mom,” the post read.
“Mom is in ICU and continues to fight. She is getting incredible medical care! Thank you to all the doctors and nurses!”
“We ask for continued prayers and positive thoughts for our Mom.”
Retton, 55, won five medals, including becoming the first American woman to take gold in individual all-around competition, at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. She additionally won two silver and two bronze medals.
The Olympic accolades earned her Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year honors.
In the fundraiser on Spotfund earlier this week, Kelley wrote that her mother has been in ICU “for over a week” and she is uninsured.
The fundraiser sought to raise $50,000 but has already surpassed $258,000.
“We ask that if you could help in any way, that 1) you PRAY! and 2) if you could help us with finances for the hospital bill,” the fundraiser description said.
“ANYTHING, absolutely anything, would be so helpful for my family and my mom. Thank y’all so very much!”
After her athletic career, Retton appeared on an episode of “Baywatch” and in the movie, “Naked Gun 33 ¹/₃: The Final Insult,” and was a contestant on the 27th season of “Dancing With the Stars.”
