Once hailed as America’s sweetheart and the embodiment of Olympic greatness, Mary Lou Retton now finds herself facing a starkly different battle—against her own body.

At just 16, Retton vaulted into the history books during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, becoming the first American woman to win all-around gymnastics gold. Her beaming face soon adorned cereal boxes and magazine covers. She was a symbol of athletic excellence and a darling of a nation hungry for heroes.

But behind the medals and Wheaties box came an invisible cost. Today, at 57, the former gymnast struggles to breathe on her own, relying on oxygen support after battling long COVID, multiple bouts of pneumonia, and enduring more than 30 orthopedic surgeries. A far cry from the powerhouse athlete who once inspired millions, Retton’s story is no longer about triumph but survival.

“She couldn’t even take a full breath when I talked to her,” said ex-brother-in-law Shaun Kelley, who remains close to the family. “She takes these little panting breaths.”

Retton’s rapid decline came into public view last year when she was hospitalized with a rare and severe form of pneumonia. For a time, her condition was so grave that doctors urged her daughters—Shayla, McKenna, Skyla, and Emma Jean—to say their final goodbyes.

Retton survived. But the fight left her physically shattered and financially drained. In an NBC interview, she admitted to having no insurance at the time of her hospitalization. “I just couldn’t afford it,” she said, blaming her 2018 divorce and preexisting conditions for her financial woes.

Her daughter McKenna launched a crowdfunding campaign that raised nearly half a million dollars. While some questioned the legitimacy of the need—given Retton’s past endorsements, divorce settlement, and lifestyle—her family insisted that any excess funds were donated to the American Lung Association. The charity declined to confirm.

In May, her name reappeared in headlines for another troubling reason: a DUI arrest. Retton was found by police in a Fairmont, West Virginia AutoZone parking lot in her 2019 Porsche Macan, allegedly reeking of alcohol with an open bottle of wine nearby. Ironically, the location was just two miles from a street named after her—Mary Lou Retton Drive.

Kelley expressed concern, particularly about how alcohol might interact with her medications. “One drink could throw off her brain chemistry,” he said, though he noted there was no known history of alcohol abuse.

In the years since her retirement from gymnastics in 1986, Retton enjoyed a lucrative career in media and motivational speaking. She appeared in films like Scrooged, took part in Dancing With the Stars, and was a fixture in Olympic broadcasting and corporate endorsements. She even co-founded a gymnastics brand with McKenna and continues to operate a women-focused gymnastics tour called Forever Our Legacy.

Yet COVID disrupted that income stream, with bookings evaporating during the pandemic. Kelley said the isolation and inability to work deeply affected Retton’s financial stability and emotional wellbeing.

Her divorce from Shannon Kelley, a former college football quarterback turned real estate developer, also made headlines. Retton reportedly walked away with nearly $2 million in assets, including profits from selling two houses and a $43,000 vehicle. But much of that appears to have been consumed by medical expenses and daily living costs.

“She raised four amazing daughters,” said Kelley. “She’s a great mother and a giving person.”

Despite her setbacks, Retton is focused on the future—particularly her daughter Emma Jean’s upcoming wedding to former Arkansas Razorback Hudson Clark. Retton has also remained involved in projects with her daughters, including the McKenna Kelley Foundation and a gymnastics equipment line.

Speaking to People, Retton reflected on her transformed identity: “My physicality was the only thing I had, and it was taken away from me. It’s embarrassing.”

But she also made it clear that her most treasured legacy isn’t gold medals—it’s her children.

“They inspire me, and they do every day,” she said. “They’re extraordinary young women and my biggest accomplishment. Take my five medals. I’ll take my daughters over that anytime.”