NEED TO KNOW
- Mary Lou Retton was allegedly in possession of a wine bottle when she was pulled over for an alleged DUI earlier this month
- The former Olympic gymnast was arrested in West Virginia on May 17 for allegedly “driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs; penalties”
- She bonded out later that day
Mary Lou Retton allegedly had a bottle of wine in her passenger seat when she was pulled over by police and subsequently charged with a DUI earlier this month, per a criminal complaint cited by the Associated Press.
On May 17, police in West Virginia responded to an incident involving the retired Olympic gymnast, 57, after receiving reports of a Porsche with a Texas license plate driving “all over the roadway,” near downtown Fairmont, WDTV reported Monday, May 26, citing court documents.
Retton was found in her car in a Marion County AutoZone parking lot with a screw-top bottle of wine in her passenger seat when officers approached her, according to the news station, citing court documents.
Police also claimed the sports star slurred her words as she spoke to them and was issued three standard field sobriety tests, which detected she was impaired, WDTV reported.
Retton refused to have her blood tested for alcohol, per the AP.
She was arrested that same day on one count of “driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs; penalties.”
Retton was issued a personal recognizance bond of $1,500, which she posted that same day.
PEOPLE did not immediately receive a response from Retton’s representatives.
The West Virginia native made history at just 16 years old when she made history at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles by becoming the first American female gymnast to win an individual all-around gold medal.
She shares four daughters — Shayla, McKenna, Skyla and Emma — with her ex-husband, Shannon Kelley.
“I put my four daughters into a sport that I love. It’s woven into every fabric of my being. We’re a gymnastics family,” the Dancing with the Stars alum told Today in 2019. “Three stuck with it, one was a cheerleader. Her path was different than mine, and I’m so proud of everything.”
In October 2023, McKenna, now 28, revealed that Retton was hospitalized and in the ICU with a rare form of pneumonia.
“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,” she said, while also linking a Spotfund page for support.
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Retton told PEOPLE in July 2024 that she pulled through because “God wasn’t ready for me yet,” though she felt her life would “never be the same” again, as she said she still relied on daily oxygen.
“It’s been really hard. My lungs are so scarred. It will be a lifetime of recovery. My physicality was the only thing I had and it was taken away from me. It’s embarrassing,” she said.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
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