Mary Lou Retton has ‘pretty scary setback’ in fight against pneumonia, says her daughter – after US Olympic legend had made ‘so much progress’ in ICU over the weekend

Mary Lou Retton has suffered “quite a frightening setback” in her battle against a rare form of pneumonia, according to her daughter.

Shayla Kelly Schrepfer took to Instagram with an update on Wednesday night, saying, “We were so excited, seeing so much progress and yesterday we had a pretty scary setback.

“She’s still in intensive care, and we’re still working through some things as far as her setback goes.

‘I just wanted to give an update there. She had a better day today, which is great – she’s really exhausted.

‘Thanks again for the support. I get so many messages and emails and it’s so great to see people love her.’

Retton’s family had set up a spot fund page to help cover the medical bills, which surpassed $450,000 as of Wednesday evening – the goal was $50,000.

Retton rose to fame in 1984 by winning five Olympic medals Los Angeles Games. Last week it turned out that she was in hospital with a rare form of pneumonia.

But the family offered fans hope this weekend when they said the former gymnast was making progress in her recovery.

In an Instagram post, Schrepfer, the eldest of Retton’s four daughters, called her mother’s progress “truly remarkable.”

“Although she remains in intensive care, her path to recovery is steadily unfolding,” Schrepfer wrote of Retton. ‘Her fighting spirit really shines!

‘Her breathing becomes stronger and her dependence on machines decreases.’

Before that, her other daughter McKenna Kelley said Retton “couldn’t breathe on his own” and had been in intensive care for more than a week.

She asked for prayers as well as donations to a crowdfunding site, saying her mother had no health insurance.

Retton, 55, captured five medals (one gold, two silver, two bronze) at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. She made history by becoming the first American woman to win gold in the individual all-around competition.

After her retirement, she was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997.

Three years ago, she became the first woman selected to the Houston Sports Hall of Fame.

Retton, who once made a cameo in “Baywatch” along with other movies and TV shows, even has a road and park named after her in her hometown of Fairmont West Virginia.

She also served on the President’s Council for Physical Fitness and Sports under former President George W. Bush.