Triumphant rise and tragic fall of Mary Lou Retton, America’s golden girl

nypost.com:

fighting for her life against a rare form of pneumonia.But fans were even more surprised to learn the 55-year-old legend does not have health insurance — and her family was asking for financial help to the tune of $50,000 to cover her bills.“She is not able to breathe on her own.

She’s been in the ICU for over a week now. Out of respect for her and her privacy, I will not disclose all details. However, I will disclose that she is not insured,” Retton’s daughter McKenna Kelley wrote on the SpotFund donation site.The disclosure kicked off a firestorm on X (formerly Twitter), with some blaming Retton — who campaigned for Ronald Reagan and led the Pledge of Allegiance at the 2004 Republican National Convention — for supporting a political party that fought the Affordable Care Act.

Others resented a successful athlete asking for donations from everyday Americans.Despite the blowback, the fund has raised over $400,000 in a sign of America’s enduring love for the icon.Two of the most generous donors were Houston philanthropists Linda and Jim “Mattress Mack” McIngvale, who own the Gallery Furniture chain.

The couple have known Retton for decades through famed and controversial gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi. They didn’t hesitate to chip in $50,000.“People say, ‘She didn’t have health insurance, she didn’t have this or she didn’t have that.’ It’s kind of simple.