Winning competitions at an Olympic level is very surreal for the handful of athletes who manage to do so. On one hand, the world will always remember those athletes at the height of their talent and abilities, effectively helping their memory to last forever in our collective consciousness. On the other hand, it’s all too easy for us to lose track of what has happened to our favorite athletes long after their Olympic glory days.
That’s certainly the case with Mary Lou Retton. She made Olympic history back in 1984, and she quietly built an amazing life for herself afterward. But we didn’t know much about what this athlete was up to until her daughter revealed that Retton was suffering from a major and unexpected illness.
What is Reton suffering from, and what can her fans do about it? Keep reading to discover the answers!
Mary Lou Retton’s Olympic accomplishments
If Mary Lou Retton’s name doesn’t immediately ring any bells, you may need to cast your mind back a few decades. In 1984, Retton was an Olympic gymnast, and like the other athletes around her, she dreamed of bringing home the gold. Most athletes, though, end up going home with lesser medals or, more commonly, no medals whatsoever.
Retton, however, performed better than anyone could have expected, including herself. She competed in the individual all-around gymnastics competition and took home the gold. When she did so, Retton did more than make her family and her country proud. She also ended up making history for women throughout America.