Olympic success often looks like a guarantee of lifelong happiness, but Mary Lou Retton’s story shows that even celebrated legends can face painful ups and downs.

She became America’s gymnastics sweetheart after her performance at the 1984 Olympics. Yet in the years that followed, Retton faced personal and financial hardships that dramatically changed her life.

In 1984, at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Retton became the first American woman to win the all-around gymnastics gold medal. This historic achievement turned the then 16-year-old into a national icon.

She received endorsement deals, television appearances, and motivational speaking opportunities. But years later, the spotlight shifted to her hospitalization and financial struggles after her divorce from Shannon Kelley in 2018.

Retton developed chronic pain after undergoing more than 30 orthopedic surgeries. In 2023, she was diagnosed with a rare form of pneumonia that required intensive care, left her lungs scarred, and forced her to seek public donations to cover uninsured medical expenses.

Fighting for her life against pneumonia, she stated, “This is serious and this is life. I’m so grateful to be here.”

Retton endured an emotional and difficult period in intensive care, at times struggling even to breathe on her own. Her four daughters launched a fundraising campaign to help cover her medical bills because she did not have health insurance. The campaign sparked broader conversations about the financial instability many athletes face after retirement.

The fundraiser ultimately brought in around $460,000. Today, Retton’s story serves as a reminder that fame and financial success can be temporary, especially after an athlete steps away from the spotlight.

Mary Lou Retton Stayed Strong Despite Struggles

Retton married Shannon Kelley in 1990, and the couple had four daughters. They later divorced in 2018.

In 2023, when one of Retton’s daughters spoke about her mother’s illness, she said, “Due to her medical history and the number of surgeries she has endured from gymnastics and just life, it’s unaffordable to her.”

Retton’s income had also declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before that, she reportedly earned $25,000 per speaking engagement.

Despite the many hardships she faced, Retton never gave up. She later revealed that she had come close to being placed on life support, and few believed she would survive. However, she made a remarkable recovery through her fighting spirit. “I have so much to look forward to. I’m a fighter,” Retton said in a conversation with Hoda Kotb on Today.

Now, Retton has an estimated net worth of $1 million. She remains connected to gymnastics through her daughters and is remembered as one of the most influential athletes in American Olympic history.

Read more at the Gymnastics Digest!

Written by

Hetal Moleshri

Edited by

Sahil Prashar