- Mary Lou Retton was hospitalized in October with a rare form of pneumonia
- She was the first American woman to win the Olympic all-around title in 1984
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
US gymnastics legend Mary Lou Retton has claimed she is grateful to be alive after a terrifying battle with a rare form of pneumonia.
The Olympic gold medalist, 55, was taken to intensive care at a Texas hospital in October 2023.
Her daughter, McKenna Kelley, said at the time that the first American woman to win the Olympic all-around title in 1984 was “fighting for her life” and unable to breathe on her own.
The gold medalist has now spoken about the harrowing experience for the first time in an interview with the Today Show's Hoda Kotb.
'I'm very private and when I want to talk about it, my interviews are usually: “Oh yeah, it felt great to win the Olympics!” This is serious and this is life,” Retton sits next to daughter Shayla Schrepfer in her Texas home.
American gymnastics legend Mary Lou Retton gave her first interview since being hospitalized
Retton revealed she was on life support as she battled the rare form of pneumonia
She won two Olympic silver and bronze medals that same year, in addition to her gold medal
'I'm so grateful to be here. I am blessed to be here because there was a time when they were about to put me on life support.”
The preview clip was released on 'Sunday Today'and the full interview will air on Monday.
Retton previously thanked fans for their support in a social media post on Thanksgiving and said she was making positive progress in her recovery.
“As we gather to celebrate this Thanksgiving, my heart overflows with deep gratitude,” she wrote.
“I want to express how blessed and grateful I am to be slowly improving and to be home with my girls, especially after my time in the hospital.
“Your love has been a beacon of hope in my life. On this day of thanksgiving, I am reminded of the preciousness of life, the love that surrounds me, and the resilience of the human spirit.
“Each of you has played an important role in my journey, and for that I am forever grateful.”
Retton's family had set up a spot fund page to help cover medical bills since she had no health insurance, her daughter Kelley explained.
Retton 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.
Retton spoke with the Today Show's Hoda Kotb with daughter Shayla Schrepfer at her home
The 55-year-old's family has set up a spot fund page to help pay medical bills
She made history as the first American woman to win gold in the individual all-around event
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.