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.
Willie Nelson’s Son Delivers a Stunning Rendition of The Sound of Silence
Willie Nelson is a living legend, but have you heard about his son, Lukas Nelson?
Lukas has an incredible musical gift that deserves recognition. While he undoubtedly learned from his father, his rendition of The Sound of Silence is so mesmerizing that one might wonder—could even Willie have delivered it in such a breathtaking way?
A Performance That Provided Hope
The year 2020 was challenging for everyone, yet Lukas Nelson offered a moment of solace during those difficult times.
As the world faced uncertainty and New York City struggled with the peak of the pandemic, Lukas chose to cover Paul Simon’s The Sound of Silence. His heartfelt performance quickly resonated with music lovers everywhere, becoming a source of comfort and hope.
A Unique Voice and Style
Lukas Nelson has always demonstrated that he is an artist in his own right. His rendition of The Sound of Silence proves that he is more than just Willie’s son—he is a musician with a distinctive voice and artistic vision.
While there are similarities between Lukas and his father, he is far from being just a country version of Willie Nelson. Lukas has cultivated his own signature sound, which shines through beautifully in this stripped-down, acoustic cover.
A Fresh Take on a Timeless Classic
The Sound of Silence is an enduring masterpiece, yet Lukas’ version feels both modern and deeply personal. He embraces his natural vocal range, relying on raw emotion and authenticity rather than digital enhancements.
His smooth and sincere delivery elevates the song, making it a standout interpretation. And his guitar skills? Simply phenomena
Carrying On the Nelson Legacy
One fan summed it up perfectly: “We’ll always have Willie’s voice with us.” And that’s true.
However, Lukas Nelson is proving that he is carving his own path. Whether he’s performing a beloved classic or showcasing his original work, Lukas makes it clear—he’s here to stay.
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