Who is Shannon Kelley, ex-husband of Mary Lou Retton and why did they separate?

June 2024 ยท 2 minute read

Mary Lou Retton, gold medalist at the 1984 Olympic Games, is battling a rare form of pneumonia but doesn't have medical insurance, prompting her family to call for donations for 'America's Sweetheart'.

The family has set up a SpotFund account aiming to cover the costs to treat the disease, which is leaving Retton unable to breathe on her own.

Retton has four children called Shayla, McKenna, Skyla and Emma, all daughters who have followed their mother's footsteps into the world of gymnastics.

Their father is Shannon Kelley who is a former college football player for the University of Texas.

Kelley then became a retail estate developer before marrying Retton in 1990. After 27 years of marriage, the couple divorced in 2017 with Kelley remaining in Houston, working in college sports.

"It's something that needed to happen for a long time," Retton said concerning the divorce, in 2018. "We still love one another, but we weren't great together anymore."

What is pneumonia?

Pneumonia is an infection of the air sacs in one or both of the lungs which can lead to life-threatening symptoms.

The symptoms can include a cough, shortness of breath, high temperatures, loss of appetite, chest pain, fatigue and confusion.

The condition impacts 450 million lives per year and killed three million people in 2016.

The moment Mary Lou Retton saw her perfect 10 for the gold medalParker Johnson

Vaccines exist to treat pneumonia. The World Health Organization and UNICEF also recommend maintaining high hygiene standards, and promotes breastfeeding for infants to avoid transmission.

"Out of respect for her, and her privacy, I will not disclose all of the details," McKenna Kelley said on the fundraiser page. "However, I will disclose that she is not insured. We ask that you can help in any way, that 1) you PRAY! And 2) if you could help us with the finances for the hospital bill."

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