Amid Her Recovery From a Rare Pneumonia, Mary Lou Retton Says She's "Not Going to Give Up"

The name Mary Lou Retton is synonymous with winning — but also with an infectious smile and a seemingly amazing attitude toward competition at the highest level, and life itself.

In October 2023, the gymnast was hospitalized for a very serious reason. Read on for the harrowing details — as well as what the beloved icon said in January 2024 about her condition and her recovery.

One of Mary Lou's daughters, gymnast McKenna Kelley, announced via Instagram on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, that her famous mom was in a Texas hospital battling a rare form of pneumonia.

At the time, McKenna shared with concerned fans that her mom was "fighting for her life" in intensive care. McKenna also posted a link to a Spotfund account created to help support Mary Lou, who doesn't have health insurance.

"She is not able to breathe on her own. She’s been in the ICU for over a week now," McKenna wrote about her mom on the site.

But, McKenna also explained, "Out of respect for her and her privacy, I will not disclose all details."

McKenna took to Instagram for another update on Weds., Oct. 11, 2023, noting that it was going to be a "day-by-day process" and thanking everyone for their prayers and support.

She also said her mom was in the care of "the best of the best professionals," which she called "such a blessing." McKenna asked fans to continue to pray for her mother.

By the end of the month, Mary Lou was thankfully back at home. She posted a statement to social media saying how overwhelmed with gratitude she was for all the love and support, and that as she continued the "long and slow" recovery process, she would give more details when the "time is right."

She said that by eventually sharing more information, she hoped to "help others who may face the same battle as me."

On Jan. 8, 2024, Mary Lou gave her first public interview since news of her health battle emerged. She sat down with Today's Hoda Kotb in her Texas home and shed some light on the situation, though she noted that she didn't have all the answers.

"I’m not great yet, I know it’s going to be a really long road — I don’t know how long, I may indefinitely need oxygen — but you have no idea how blessed and how grateful I was for this holiday season," she said.

She also noted that she was ready to keep fighting.

"I mean, when you face death in the eyes? I have so much to look forward to," she explained. "I’m a fighter and I’m not going to give up. I’m not going to give up. I have no idea what the future holds for me. I don’t know if I’m going to have lasting issues with my lungs. They don’t know. I wish I had answers. But I will never give up, it’s not in me."

McKenna joined her mom for the interview, explaining to Hoda that her mother had been "tested for everything" and that everything had come out negative.

Mary Lou even noted, "I've never had a lung issue in my life."

All over social media, people have been hoping that Mary Lou recovers fully. As many fans recall, she scored perfect 10s on her floor routine and on the vault in the 1984 Olympics.

Incredibly, Mary Lou was the first American ever to win an Olympic individual all-round gold medal that year — and she still went on to win the title of U.S. champion in 1985.

Those of us old enough to remember can still see her iconic Wheaties box, and that almost impossibly big, pearly white smile that lit up our TV screens at home.

We join McKenna, Mary Lou's other daughters Shayla, Skyla, and Emma, and all of her friends and fans in praying that she makes a complete recovery. If anyone can fight, it's definitely this very petite, but larger than life hero.