AceShowbiz - Mary Lou Retton has opened up about her health issue for the first time. The Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast detailed her illness in a preview of an upcoming "Today" show interview with Hoda Kotb that aired on Sunday Today with Willie Geist.

The 55-year-old first divulged that she is "on oxygen" as she sat beside daughter Shayla Kelley with a breathing apparatus supporting her. She then noted that she is "very much" in a "vulnerable state," as Kotb, 59, suggested, explaining, "I'm very private."

"Usually my interviews are, 'Oh, yeah, it felt great to win the Olympics,' you know? This is serious and this is life," she continued. "I'm so grateful to be here. I am blessed to be here, because there was a time when they were about to put me on life support."

Her daughter revealed in October that her mother had spent over a week in intensive care and launched an online fundraiser to help pay for the treatment as she does not have medical insurance.

In a post on the Spotfund.com page, McKenna wrote, "My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life. 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 not insured."

"We're thrilled to share some uplifting updates. Mom's progress is truly remarkable! Prayers have been felt and have been answered," McKenna penned at the time. "Although she remains in the ICU, her path to recovery is steadily unfolding. Her fighting spirit is truly shining! Her breathing is becoming stronger, and her reliance on machines is diminishing."