Mary Lou Retton, an esteemed Olympic gymnast, has been charged with driving under the influence in Marion County, West Virginia. Retton, 57, was apprehended on May 17 and subsequently charged with one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs, according to online court records.
Reports indicate that Retton posted a $1,500 bond and was released the same day of her arrest. It appears she has not yet issued a plea, as recorded in the court documents. Edmund J. Rollo, Retton’s legal counsel, has thus far declined to comment on the ongoing proceedings.
The significance becomes clear when we consider Retton’s recent health struggles. Two years prior, the gold-medal gymnast overcame a severe bout with pneumonia, necessitating a nearly two-week stay in the intensive care unit. In a previous interview, Retton admitted to ongoing complications from this 2023 health crisis.
“I still have a hard time breathing and getting breath to speak,” Retton shared with Entertainment Tonight last May. She revealed that her work as a public speaker has been hindered significantly by her condition, leaving her reliant on supplemental oxygen. At the time of the interview, Retton was still grappling with the consequences of her health scare, which she described as a “rare form of pneumonia.”
During her illness, Retton’s daughters initiated an online fundraiser to help cover her medical bills. Critics questioned the necessity of such efforts from a celebrated athlete like Retton, who once graced the Wheaties cereal box. Retton countered by noting she was uninsured when the fundraiser was launched and expressed gratitude for her daughters’ support.
Retton’s meteoric rise to fame came during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where she scored consecutive perfect 10s, securing an all-around gold medal—the first for an American. She also clinched two additional silver medals and two bronze, emerging as the most decorated athlete of the Los Angeles Olympics, per her official Olympics biography. Retton, a long-standing symbol of American sports, was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997.
In the decades since her Olympic triumph, Retton has remained an active public figure. In 2018, Retton showcased her dance skills on season 27 of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.” As we navigate these latest developments, it’s crucial to remember that every individual is entitled to due process and a fair hearing.
