\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>Mary Lou Retton Addresses Backlash Over Fundraiser for Her Medical Bills<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tMary Lou Retton is addressing trolls who criticized her daughters for starting a crowdsourcing fund to pay her medical bills. \u201cThey didn\u2019t deserve that,\u201d the retired Olympic gymnast, 56, told Entertainment Tonight on Wednesday, May 22. \u201cThey were just trying to take care of me. I don\u2019t care about the naysayers. There are trolls everywhere. [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201c[When] COVID hit, literally COVID hit \u2014 our job is to be near people and talk to them and so there was no work whatsoever,\u201d she said of her speaking engagements slowing down. \u201cLet\u2019s say that the height of my fame was years ago and I [was] just doing enough to make it, doing enough to pay my bills.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nRetton shares daughters Shayla, 30, McKenna, 28, Skyla, 25, and Emma, 22, with Kelley. Shortly after Retton was hospitalized with pneumonia, McKenna started a spotfund, which far surpassed\u00a0 its initial $50,000 fundraising goal.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\nThank You!<\/h3>\n
You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a very long recovery, I\u2019m still on oxygen, and I had a bit of a relapse a while ago, but I\u2019m back and regulated,\u201d Retton shared last year. \u201cIt\u2019s just more discouragement than anything because, you know, patience isn\u2019t one of my strong skill sets,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m tired of this thing up my nose. \u2026 I\u2019m a speaker and haven\u2019t been able to work because I don\u2019t know if I can get up on stage and do an hour-long talk like I\u2019ve normally done for 40 years. That\u2019s frustrating.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nDespite her challenges, Retton expressed gratitude for her life and her daughters\u2019 support.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\u201cThey were strong,\u201d she recalled. \u201cI can\u2019t imagine them seeing me on my deathbed, and I\u2019m not exaggerating when I say that I was. They inspire me, and they do every day. They\u2019re extraordinary young women. They\u2019re my biggest accomplishments. Take my five medals, I\u2019ll take my daughters over that any time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Retton shares daughters Shayla, 30, McKenna, 28, Skyla, 25, and Emma, 22, with Kelley. Shortly after Retton was hospitalized with pneumonia, McKenna started a spotfund, which far surpassed\u00a0 its initial $50,000 fundraising goal.<\/span><\/p>\n You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a very long recovery, I\u2019m still on oxygen, and I had a bit of a relapse a while ago, but I\u2019m back and regulated,\u201d Retton shared last year. \u201cIt\u2019s just more discouragement than anything because, you know, patience isn\u2019t one of my strong skill sets,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m tired of this thing up my nose. \u2026 I\u2019m a speaker and haven\u2019t been able to work because I don\u2019t know if I can get up on stage and do an hour-long talk like I\u2019ve normally done for 40 years. That\u2019s frustrating.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Despite her challenges, Retton expressed gratitude for her life and her daughters\u2019 support.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThey were strong,\u201d she recalled. \u201cI can\u2019t imagine them seeing me on my deathbed, and I\u2019m not exaggerating when I say that I was. They inspire me, and they do every day. They\u2019re extraordinary young women. They\u2019re my biggest accomplishments. Take my five medals, I\u2019ll take my daughters over that any time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nThank You!<\/h3>\n