Olympian Mary Lou Retton Reflects on "New Lease on Life" After Nearly Dying | PEOPLE
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- Four decades ago, gymnast Mary Lou Retton made Olympic history as the first American to win the individual all-round gold. Now she's reflecting on her gold medal win, her struggles with public scrutiny over her weight, becoming a grandma - "I want to be Lou Lou!" - and surviving a near-fatal bout with pneumonia.
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Olympian Mary Lou Retton Reflects on "New Lease on Life" After Nearly Dying | PEOPLE
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We're happy you are still here and making progress. God bless you, Mary Lou. You are a walking miracle.
Glad you’re still here Mary Lou. God bless you and your family ❤
I remember watching you in the 84' Olympics. I was only a couple years younger than you. So I didn't wanna watch the Olympics. But, that's what my parents were watching. So, that's what I had to watch. I couldn't wait for it to be over. Then my dad told me watch this girl here. She team USA and only 16 years. And I was amazed on how good you were at 16. Anyway, after that day I was hooked. I was glued to the TV every day. And it was just to watch you! You are one of a kind. And thank goodness you have a Angel on your shoulder and you are still here to talk about it! God Bless You! ❤️
Its sad to see her like that, but she's made such a massive improvement over the last few months. Im glad she's still kicking. She seems like she'd make an awesome grandma.
She is such a gem!!! Congrats, Lou Lou! You're gonna be a great grandma! ❤ I'm so happy to see her thriving.
Some of y’all coming for this woman about her being “loaded”, “loopy” or “drugged up” really need to check yourself. This woman ALMOST DIED! She was in a medical induced coma for several days and suffered irreparable damage to her body. When you go through something like that, of course you’re not going to behave in a conventionally “normal” way. Stop the trolling and show this woman some respect for still being present on this Earth with the rest of us. Love you, Mary Lou. ❤️
She did interviews earlier this year on oxygen where she didn’t sound like this though…
@@qprtplx2105 yes, and she did interviews where she was clearly altered well before this whole health scare
She’s medicated.
@@stephaniezehler2986exactly
Watch her mouth when she speaks. It almost seems like she had a stroke. Either that and/or medication.
This beautiful soul! You touched us for life Mary Lou
I always loved watching Mary Lou Retton back in the 80s performing gymnastics ,your no #1 in my opinion Mary Lou !!!!! 🤸♀️🥰🙏❤️
She is precious. Love her!
So Happy you’re still with us! Keep enjoying Life and ignore any negativity ❤
Mary Lou, you have been - and are - an inspiration to our nation. Forever and always!!!!
Mary Lou, you’re an American icon! Enjoy your life. Your beautiful smile still radiates joy & love.
I have always loved how big her smile is and how it lights up the whole room
Her spirit does, too.
I been a Fan since 1983 and I love Mary lou and her Million dollar smile. ❤❤, 🎉
This illness must have been sooo sooo tough for her.
I'm glad to see she's recovering.
You are such a beautiful person Mary Lou! Thank God you are still with us!
Mary Lou was exceptionally talented. I watched her win her metals and I was 13 years old. I am now almost 52, I have emphysema and sle lupus. I know what it’s like not to be able to breathe. At times my o2 stats would stay from 82-93. I went almost a week with my o2. Stats in the 80’s I haven’t had a bad attack since July of 2023. She has the most beautiful smile . I feel so bad for her having to go through this. I pray she gets better.
You are truly a blessing! Praise the Lord. I loved watching you do gymnastics!
She is amazing I remember watching her in 1984 Olympics
Mary Lou! I just Love you so much! I watched you in 1984 and it was one of the best moments of my life. You are such a lovey person!
Mary lou so thankful you made it through !! You were such an inspiration to me ever since I was a kid in the 80s. 🎉
Mary Lou, my prayers are with you and you are a legend...Both in the Olympics, and in real life. Bless you lady!
I wonder if she has an addiction and can conquer that, how much more she could bring to the world in awareness!! I pray she heals from the constant physical and emotional pain she appears to be in. I’ll never forget her greatness, I hope she tells her full story someday. Like typical young athletes, many go broke as they have no clue how to manage money, even some, having their fortune stolen.
She is still an adorable treasure! Congratulations LouLou!❤❤❤
Mary Lou I admire you and I am so thankful my prayers for you to live have been answered
Hugs from New Mexico
Love you, Mary Lou, God bless you! You are one of my all time fav's , from a fellow WV!
I can't believe some of the horrible comments!!! She was in a medically induced coma and almost died! She seems like she might have had a stroke, or maybe it's just the medication she is on. People need to have a little empathy. Keep your nasty comments to yourselves!!
@@wendystjean4678 I said the same thing. The blatant disrespect that people are showing her is sickening. Forget that she’s an Olympic champion and an American icon. She’s a human being first and deserves nothing less than compassion.
What an amazing lady. ❤️
Good Lord...how has it been 40 years since I saw her win that Olympic Gold?
What she endured is unreal. She survived yet the traumatic illness aged the heck out of her. I wish her the best . Hopefully she gets healthier 🙏
Just luv her spirit. Bless ya Lou Lou
What a miracle from God! Thank you, Mary Lou Retton, for your contribution to America. God Bless you!
This woman is an American icon! I have so much respect for her and her contribution to the gymnastic sports! So happy to see her happy, health and smiling. God bless you Mary Lou Retton!!!!!
Doesn't her contribution to gymnastics include trying to lobby against the protection of gymnasts in the wake of the Nassar allegations? Bela and Marta did so much damage and some of their gymnasts internalized it. Kim Zmeskal's gym is Texas Dreams aka Texas Nightmares. I don't know that Mary Lou is capable of being that person now, and I hope she understands how wrong her old self was. She's got such an aura, and if she lives the rest of her life reliving her great moments, she deserves to be heard. She was a victim of the Karolyis in a way. Body shaming etc. Maybe she's healing that trauma as best she can considering the lateness of her chance of an epiphany.
God bless you your family & new grandbaby ! Prayers!! 😊
LouLou is the sweetest thing omg❤
you never know what any one person is going through and what took place to where they are.
She is the best, always will be the best!
God bless her.
She will recuperate fully.
Let’s pray for her.
❤ you, Mary Lou!!!
Love you Mary Lou..
I remember when Marylou won the gold. I can’t believe it’s been 40 years. She will always be americas sweetheart.
Love her and totally agree that she was a trailblazer….but she is absolutely LOADED in this interview lmao
That was my assessment too. It was irresponsible for People to air this.
You don’t know that. She almost freaking died and it’s probably effects from the brain damage etc.
I think it's effects from lack of oxygen over time. Even though her manerisms seem off her words and sentences flow well and make sense. If she was messed up she would slur and say things that dont make sense or talk off topic which she didn't.
@@user-xg8hq1fc1c agree. Lack of oxygen to brain and respiratory issues might make anyone’s speech impacted
i will wholeheartedly admit that i myself was like this before a small handful of people shared that i needed to 'rise up' and make a man that you were Created to be.
each one of us(women and men) have been through/had something happen/take place in our life.
it is when you go through something that you take a couple of steps back, Give Thanks and know that there is something better coming.
Fairmont, WV loves you, Mary Lou!!!!! We are hometown proud of you!!!! I will never forget the moment you won that gold medal!!! I was lying on my bed watching every moment!! 40 years ago!!!
I remember watching you as a child and all my friends the next day at school were abuzz❤
I totally agree with you @Royal Master!!! I just love Mary lou...she will always be my favorite gymnist
She’s hammered in this video. Clearly on something.
Glad to see MLR health improving..I hope go fund me covered her medical bills insurance didn't cover...emotional being alive after ordeal.
Love Mary Lou ❤❤❤ Thank God she’s okay! She was my childhood hero
She's still an inspiration...but in a different way.
She has purpose.
She looks amazing 👏 and is a legend in the sport of gymnastics and is so loved ❤❤❤
Mary Lou Retton was equal to "American". loved watching her then, still love watching the videos. Great memories of the olden days when things were so different.
She the best in her craft no one will ever forget you are the best
Enjoy her granddaughter and daughters.
love her! how precious is she?
Love her. ❤
This woman publicly defended USAG and Steve Penny's coverup of the Nasser scandal. She is complicit. She is not a hero and deserves no celebration
Edit: some people don't understand that this sad excuse for a human being went to Congress and actively campaigned against passing the Safe Sport law because USAG and Steve Penny said they were already protecting gymnasts enough. Regardless of what she knew who tf advocates against Safe Sport? And who KEEPS HELPING USAG AND STEVE PENNY. She is a disgrace.
And maybe this changed her. Lots of people change. Do you want to be held prisoner to YOUR past? It's not a final record until it's all over.
Who are you to judge others.
@@chocdavethat wasn’t a mistake she made, it was a conscious decision.
@extra_ice_girl Oh come on, YOU'VE made conscious decisions you later realized were bad mistakes. Shall we talk about all our romantic decisions? And after near-death, she's re-thinking things as you always do after that and this might be one of them
There was a lot of info unavailable at the time, and certainly would NOT have condoned it had she known. She made the statement she did with the info she had at the time. She isn’t complicit.
each time something like this goes on,
many people care to point out others faults and do not take into consideration their own.
She seems to be trying to impress upon us that she had/has no money because of her Gofundme? I remember her coming home from the Olympics to some major endorsements/advertisers. She received $1,000,000 for her gold metal from Wheaties alone. She also has advertised for Hersheys, Purex Laundry detergent, Energizer batteries, and Revco and who knows how many more.
Get up Mary Lou
I wonder if it was something she breathed in. She said she had her nails done the day before with her daughters. Praying for her total recovery.
What a Beautiful Smile 😁
Miracle
I'm glad she survived. But, whoever allowed her to do this interview should be ashamed.
💯!!!! Even if they did the interview People mag knows better to publish something like this…but it will gain attention. All about the clicks.
The power of prayer. The power of prayer.
National treasure!!!!! We love you!!!!
❤❤❤❤❤
Mary Lou is Marty Louis. Dude. Deception everywhere.
56 is young to look like 70 plus.
She sounds like she had a stroke that affected her speech.
OMG she looks like she's 80 years old.....
I’m shocked as well! I’m so glad she survived but, is this aging from the sickness she had?…
That’s so mean. She looks fine. She almost died! Be kind
@@unknown-lf6zxI don’t think the age reference was intended as an insult. It’s just this person’s statement of fact. Yes, what she went through was tough and it undoubtedly took a toll on her body. She does look older than she really is.
@@unknown-lf6zxSadly, she looks far beyond the 56 years she is.
@@miloperrault2614she almost died. Give her a freaking break please be kind.
Mary Lou has upset and angered me, and I am sure many others, who live in her hometown, Fairmont WV. She was NOT born/raised in a HOLLER and the city's residents are NOT HILLBILLIES! Fairmont is a short 30 minutes from Morgantown, home of The Mountaineers.... Fairmont is a small CITY that has named the road, Mary Lou Retton Drive, where her beautiful, family home is located. We have also named our sports park after her as a sign of respect and appreciation. It is a shame she didn't show her hometown the same respect and appreciation in her People Magazine interview.
For those of you who want to know about the REAL Mary Lou Retton. This is a first-hand account of who she really is. I can say this with full confidence, as I am a former friend.
She is nothing like the smiley-faced, sweet persona she tries to portray. She is a lying, deceitful, self-centered individual with no care of compassion for others. She is the true definition of a user. This is nothing about Mary Lou’s personality that is genuine. I am sure there is not a single fan out there who loves Mary Lou, more than Mary Lou loves herself.
She is more than happy to continuously talk about her accomplishments, and remind you who she is and what she’s done.
In all my conversations with her, I can’t remember her ever asking, “How are you”? It all about Mary Lou.
If you believe she had “Pneumonia”, I have a bridge I would like to sell you. She is an Anti-Vaxxer who refuses to admit the real reason behind her illness.
For someone who preaches the word of God so much, she would walk the walk instead of lying to everyone she comes in contact with.
Well you sure are bitter and over what?
This lady has to be a Christian. She's just so gracious, kind, humble, generous, everything I want to be. I will be keeping up on how she's doing
For those of you who want to know about the REAL Mary Lou Retton. This is a first-hand account of who she really is. I can say this with full confidence, as I am a former friend.
She is nothing like the smiley-faced, sweet persona she tries to portray. She is a lying, deceitful, self-centered individual with no care of compassion for others. She is the true definition of a user. This is nothing about Mary Lou’s personality that is genuine. I am sure there is not a single fan out there who loves Mary Lou, more than Mary Lou loves herself.
She is more than happy to continuously talk about her accomplishments, and remind you who she is and what she’s done.
In all my conversations with her, I can’t remember her ever asking, “How are you”? It all about Mary Lou.
If you believe she had “Pneumonia”, I have a bridge I would like to sell you. She is an Anti-Vaxxer who refuses to admit the real reason behind her illness.
For someone who preaches the word of God so much, she would walk the walk instead of lying to everyone she comes in contact with.
She seems like she’s been drinking or something…why is she so loopy?
I thought the same thing but I was afraid to post because of trolls coming for me. Loopy is the word - who knows!
I agree, something seems off with this interview. Maybe a side effect to some of the medications she may still be on?
Yes. Really off. Very exaggerated responses that she can barely pronounce
Looks almost as though she's experiencing tremors in addition to the slurred speech. It has me wondering if she sustained neurological damage from when she had Covid. Could have experienced hypoxia, could have experienced a stroke, etc. I don't know if we ever really found out.
@@melissac3618 she def have some weird, loopy interviews before the whole pneumonia episode
Everyone remembers her.
HAMMERED !!!!!
Poor Mary Lou, she looks really old here, pray for her 🙏🏽
I don't think she has changed from that 100 percent bubbly on fire persona that she was back then.
Why is it a step backwards? The men have their legs covered. I personally find the leotards worn offensively revealing and tacky. Mary Lou and Nadia covered their butts and still performed all their moves.
I'm so glad she's ok now. She's such a beautiful sprit, and she still has that megawatt smile.
What the heck is this, geeze
You Mary are a firecracker then and are know
She looks really old than really she is, I think cuz her healt problem…
Good lord what is she talking about? I don't understand anything she's saying I really don't think she does either, wow I wonder what medication as she's taking because it's making her like this, she looks terrible, heartbreaking interview makes me sad and I'm almost embarrassed for her hope she doesn't get too much backlash fron this.,.
It’s alcohol… that’s why she looks so aged
Get her some oxygen!!
I wonder if she still lives in the same house, or has she downsized???
Law Mary Of Password
❤
Are you sober?
1984
オリンピックスター
次はロスだぞメアリー！！
元気に聖火台に火を灯してくれ‼️
Wow she has aged after that
Is it me or is she under the influence? This is a bad, bad situation.
i need to Give Thanks to The Lord for helping guide Ms. Retton through an ordeal that could have had a completely different turnout.
i find it completely interesting and oddly unique that whenever someone is going through something that this woman did,
so many people 'aim/wanna' point that automatic finger and say 'guilty'.
when something like this happens/takes place,
you need to look at how many fingers are pointing back at you.
I don't trust anything she says. Making her fans pay her bills.
I know! Shady! That rubs me the wrong way considering that she's made between 4-8 million $$. Even the lowest income families have insurance!
She certainly thinks very highly of herself. I thought it was all nonsense when the daughters went to the media. Shameful.
I don’t know what her financial distraction was, but she didn’t have insurance and votes Republican, so she’s not into the government providing for healthcare. She’s fortunate in that she has fans who would help her out. Millions of Americans don’t and many of them go bankrupt due to out-of-control healthcare bills from greedy corporations.
Her husband spent her all money!!
Porque no traducen al español para la gente que no sabemos inglés
She's really aged a lot. Her illness must have taken a toll on her.
Very odd behaviour
I wonder if Bela Karoli was demanding the 10 before or after his training became abusive. 🤔
Or maybe he always was?
Mary Lou, I pray you are reading this. You were cleaning with toxic ingredients and that caused this. Please build the lung tissue with COQ10 and find a great intregrative med doc to help you detox. You changed my life in 1984... I became a gymnast because of you. You have no idea how important you have been to the course of my life. God is good... God is good!!!!!!
Mary Lou, try swimming laps a few times a week- it will help your breathing and lung capacity.
All those years of gymnastics drugs