Mary Lou Retton addresses criticism of her medical bill fundraising efforts
Mary Lou Retton believes her family is worthy of a gold medal. The former Olympian supported her daughters’ decision to launch a crowdsourcing campaign to cover the medical expenses she incurred while battling a rare form of pneumonia that landed her in the hospital in October.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight published on May 22, Mary Lou stated, “They didn’t deserve that. They were simply trying to take care of me. I’m not bothered by the critics. Trolls exist everywhere. That’s just part of American culture. Everyone has an opinion, but that’s life.”
The ex-athlete, who shares daughters Shayla (28), McKenna (26), Skyla (23), and Emma (21) with her former husband Shannon Kelley, revealed that she faced challenges in covering her escalating medical bills due to the impact of the pandemic on her public speaking career and the expenses associated with her 2018 divorce.
“I spent a month in the intensive care unit. The bills kept piling up and they’re still arriving,” she explained. “From ambulance charges to everything else, it’s unimaginable.”
Mary Lou emphasized that all the funds collected were solely used for her treatment. The gymnastics legend, who retired in 1986 after clinching Team USA’s first gold medal in the All-Around at the 1984 Olympics, credited her daughters’ compassionate gesture for helping her navigate through her illness.