Mary Lou Retton Makes First Public Statement Since Being Hospitalized With Pneumonia

Former Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton made her first public comment on Monday since she was released from a Texas hospital on Oct. 23 after her battle against an unusual form of pneumonia.

Retton posted a heartfelt message on Instagram, sharing that she was “overwhelmed with all the love and support from the world” as she continues her recovery process after being hospitalized earlier this month.

“I’m with family continuing to recover and stay positive as I know this recovery is a long and slow process,” Retton wrote in the post. “I appreciate everyone’s respect of my privacy at this time. When the time is right, I will be sharing more information about my health issues and hope I can help others who may face the same battle as me. I love you all.”

On Oct. 10, Retton’s daughter, McKenna Kelley, posted on Instagram that her mother had been in the hospital for more than a week because of pneumonia and was not able to breathe on her own in the ICU. Although Retton continued to progress at that time, the 55-year-old had encountered a “scary setback” where she was once “fighting for her life.”

Retton became the first woman to capture gold in the Olympic all-around title in 1984 in Los Angeles. In addition to her all-around recognition during the ’84 Summer Games, the Fairmont, W. Va., native also won four other medals—two silver and two bronze—and was selected as SI’s Sportsperson of the Year.