Mary Lou Retton’s family posted an uplifting update on the Olympic gymnast’s battle with pneumonia. Her daughter said her Mom is making “remarkable” progress in her fight in a hospital ICU.

Retton’s daughter, McKenna Kelley posted the update on Saturday on Instagram. McKenna posted that her Mom’s breathing is becoming stronger, and her “path to recovery is steadily progressing.” She also relayed that her Mother is less dependent on breathing machines.

“Though it’s a lengthy journey, witnessing these improvements is incredibly heartening,” Kelley wrote. “She’s beginning to respond to treatments.”

Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton, 55, is currently in the intensive care unit, battling a rare form of pneumonia. The shocking news was shared on her daughter, McKenna Kelley’s Instagram Story, where she also posted a link to a Spotfund page dedicated to her mother’s medical expenses.

Mary Lou Retton is an iconic figure in the world of gymnastics. Her historic achievements at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles made her the first American to win an individual all-around gold medal. Remarkably, she accomplished this feat despite having undergone knee surgery only weeks before the Games. Retton’s near-perfect performances on the floor and vault secured her victory, with a margin of just 0.05 points over Romania’s Ecaterina Szabo. Her Olympic journey also included silver medals in the vault and team event, as well as bronze medals in the uneven bars and the floor exercise.

Mary Lou Retton’s charismatic and engaging personality endeared her to both judges and audiences. Her radiant smile and her ability to connect with the crowd made her performances unforgettable.