Legendary Olympic chmpaion gymnast Mary Lou Retton pleaded no contest to driving under the influence Tuesday after being arrested in May following reports of erratic driving in her hometown of Fairmont, West Virginia.
The 57-year-old five-time Olympic medalist issued a public apology through her attorney and took full responsibility for the incident that occurred just over a year after she made headlines for fighting a life-threatening bout of pneumonia.
“What happened was completely unacceptable. I make no excuses,” Retton said in a statement released through her attorney Edmund J. Rollo. “To my family, friends and my fans: I have let you down, and for that I am deeply sorry. I am determined to learn and grow from this experience, and I am committed to making positive changes in my life. I truly appreciate your concern, encouragement and continued support.”
Fairmont police stopped Retton on May 17 following reports of a person in a Porsche driving “all over the roadway.” According to the criminal complaint, when officers pulled her over, she smelled of alcohol and was slurring her words. She failed a field sobriety test, and officers observed a container of wine in the passenger seat.
Retton was charged with one count of driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances or drugs and was released from jail after posting a personal recognizance bond of $1,500.
A Marion County judge fined Retton $100, consistent with sentencing guidelines for first-time, non-aggravated offenses in the jurisdiction.
“Mary Lou Retton appeared in court this afternoon and entered a no-contest plea to a non-aggravated DUI charge stemming from a recent incident,” Rollo said. “Mary Lou accepted full responsibility for her actions and received a standard $100 fine, consistent with sentencing guidelines for first-time, non-aggravated offenses in this jurisdiction.”
Rollo emphasized that Retton received no special treatment during the legal process.
“In keeping with her values, Mary Lou made no request for special treatment and was subject to the same legal process as any other individual,” the attorney said. “She is grateful for the professionalism of law enforcement and the court system, and she fully respects the outcome. Mary Lou has expressed a sincere desire to use this experience as a moment for reflection and accountability. She asks for privacy as she moves forward with her personal and professional life.”
Retton became “America’s sweetheart” at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles when she scored perfect 10s in the floor exercise and vault in the final two rotations to become the first American woman to win the Olympic all-around title. She was just 16 years old at the time and earned five medals that year — one gold, two silver and two bronze. Her success helped bring gymnastics into the mainstream in the United States.
After retiring from gymnastics, Retton became a motivational speaker. She also served on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports under former President George W. Bush.
The DUI arrest comes just over a year after Retton faced a serious health crisis that thrust her back into the public spotlight. In 2023, her daughter McKenna Kelley revealed on social media that Retton was “fighting for her life” with “a very rare form of pneumonia” and was not insured.
The health emergency led to a flood of donations totaling over $450,000. Retton was admitted to an intensive care unit as doctors helped her fight the illness. Her oxygen levels were found to be dangerously low, and her medical team considered putting her on a ventilator as her condition worsened.
“This is serious, and this is life, and I’m so grateful to be here,” Retton said during a January 2024 interview on NBC’s “Today” show, appearing with an oxygen tube in her nose. “I am blessed to be here because there was a time when they were about to put me on life support.”
Kelley told USA TODAY Sports that Retton could not get affordable health care because of pre-existing conditions stemming from “over 30 orthopedic surgeries, including four hip replacements” from her gymnastics career. Retton later told NBC she was able to obtain medical insurance.
After weeks in the hospital on oxygen treatment, Retton improved enough to be sent home and has since recovered from the pneumonia that nearly claimed her life.