Mary Lou Retton addresses backlash to daughters’ crowdfund, ‘Everybody’s got an opinion’

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Fairmont, West Virginia native Mary Lou Retton gave an update on her life and health in a recent national interview after a health scare left her fighting for her life last fall .

In the recent interview , the former Olympic gymnast said that she is still on oxygen and trying to be patient as she continues to recover. She developed a rare form of pneumonia back in October and spent several weeks in an intensive care unit in Texas.

While Retton was hospitalized, her daughters set up a crowdfund to help raise money for their mother’s medical bills since she did not have insurance. The fund was widely supported, raising more than $200,000 in a day and near $500,000 total, but it was also criticized, with many people questioning how a former Olympic gold medalist and “America’s sweetheart” could possibly not have insurance.

In the Entertainment Tonight interview, Retton addressed those rumors, saying that COVID affected her work.

“I mean, it’s not like it used to be. Let’s say that like the height of my fame was years ago and I just, you know, doing enough to make it, doing enough to pay my bills,” she said.

Retton said in a previous interview with NBC TODAY in January that the cost of insurance was also very high because of her many previous sports-related operations.

To rumors about the authenticity of the crowdfund, Retton said she doesn’t “go down those rabbit holes.” She added later in the interview, “I don’t care about the naysayers. There are trolls everywhere. It’s what makes us America. Everybody’s got an opinion, but it is what it is.”

She said that all the money that was raised is going toward her medical bills, which she said are “still coming in,” but any remaining funds will be donated to the American Lung Association.

Retton credited her daughters and God for getting her through her illness.

“You’re welcome to your opinion, but you weren’t in that situation. My daughters stepped up to the plate, and they saved my life and all the love and support saved my life,” she said.

Retton remains on oxygen and said she is still in the middle of her long recovery, but ultimately, she says that she knows “the big man upstairs” wasn’t ready for her yet.

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