Triumphant rise and tragic fall of Mary Lou Retton, America’s golden girl : Stars Of Hollywood
- 6 months ago
Earlier this week, the country was shocked to learn that America’s 1984 sweetheart, Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton, was in a Texas hospital fighting for her life against a rare form of pneumonia.
But fans were even more surprised to learn the 55-year-old legend does not have health insurance — and her family was asking for financial help to the tune of $50,000 to cover her bills.
“She is not able to breathe on her own. She’s been in the ICU for over a week now. Out of respect for her and her privacy, I will not disclose all details. However, I will disclose that she is not insured,” Retton’s daughter McKenna Kelley wrote on the SpotFund donation site.
The disclosure kicked off a firestorm on X (formerly Twitter), with some blaming Retton — who campaigned for Ronald Reagan and led the Pledge of Allegiance at the 2004 Republican National Convention — for supporting a political party that fought the Affordable Care Act. Others resented a successful athlete asking for donations from everyday Americans.
Despite the blowback, the fund has raised over $400,000 in a sign of America’s enduring love for the icon.
Two of the most generous donors were Houston philanthropists Linda and Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, who own the Gallery Furniture chain. The couple have known Retton for decades through famed and controversial gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi. They didn’t hesitate to chip in $50,000.
“People say, ‘She didn’t have health insurance, she didn’t have this or she didn’t have that.’ It’s kind of simple. Let any of us who never made a mistake in life cast the first stone. We’re here to help,” Jim told The Post, adding that Retton is “warm and bubbly.”
While he hasn’t spoken to her recently, he has been in touch with her immediate family, which includes daughters Shayla, 28; McKenna, 26; Skyla, 23; and Emma, 21.
“They are very private about the whole thing and I certainly respect that,” Jim added.
Sasha Farber, who was Retton’s dance partner when she competed in “Dancing with the Stars” in 2018, gave a grim update.
“I’ve been talking to her today and she’s fighting,” Farber told “Entertainment Tonight.” “She kind of wants to give up, but I’m sending her videos of her dancing and I’m telling her, ‘There’s only one Mary Lou Retton. You’ve got this!’”
Retton, a longtime Houston resident who lists her recent career endeavors as “motivational speaker” and a partnership with Foxy’s Leotards on her Instagram page, isn’t being abandoned by her sport.
A representative for the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) told The Post that the group is working through the United States Olympians & Paralympians Relief Fund to help alleviate medical costs for Retton.
“Upon learning of Mary Lou’s condition, we immediately took action to expedite the application process for her family to receive assistance. We are currently working
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#houstonastr
But fans were even more surprised to learn the 55-year-old legend does not have health insurance — and her family was asking for financial help to the tune of $50,000 to cover her bills.
“She is not able to breathe on her own. She’s been in the ICU for over a week now. Out of respect for her and her privacy, I will not disclose all details. However, I will disclose that she is not insured,” Retton’s daughter McKenna Kelley wrote on the SpotFund donation site.
The disclosure kicked off a firestorm on X (formerly Twitter), with some blaming Retton — who campaigned for Ronald Reagan and led the Pledge of Allegiance at the 2004 Republican National Convention — for supporting a political party that fought the Affordable Care Act. Others resented a successful athlete asking for donations from everyday Americans.
Despite the blowback, the fund has raised over $400,000 in a sign of America’s enduring love for the icon.
Two of the most generous donors were Houston philanthropists Linda and Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, who own the Gallery Furniture chain. The couple have known Retton for decades through famed and controversial gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi. They didn’t hesitate to chip in $50,000.
“People say, ‘She didn’t have health insurance, she didn’t have this or she didn’t have that.’ It’s kind of simple. Let any of us who never made a mistake in life cast the first stone. We’re here to help,” Jim told The Post, adding that Retton is “warm and bubbly.”
While he hasn’t spoken to her recently, he has been in touch with her immediate family, which includes daughters Shayla, 28; McKenna, 26; Skyla, 23; and Emma, 21.
“They are very private about the whole thing and I certainly respect that,” Jim added.
Sasha Farber, who was Retton’s dance partner when she competed in “Dancing with the Stars” in 2018, gave a grim update.
“I’ve been talking to her today and she’s fighting,” Farber told “Entertainment Tonight.” “She kind of wants to give up, but I’m sending her videos of her dancing and I’m telling her, ‘There’s only one Mary Lou Retton. You’ve got this!’”
Retton, a longtime Houston resident who lists her recent career endeavors as “motivational speaker” and a partnership with Foxy’s Leotards on her Instagram page, isn’t being abandoned by her sport.
A representative for the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) told The Post that the group is working through the United States Olympians & Paralympians Relief Fund to help alleviate medical costs for Retton.
“Upon learning of Mary Lou’s condition, we immediately took action to expedite the application process for her family to receive assistance. We are currently working
#houston
#houstonastr