Mary Lou Retton, the celebrated Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics, was arrested earlier this month in West Virginia on charges of driving under the influence (DUI), according to online records.
The incident occurred on May 17 in Marion County, West Virginia, where the 57-year-old former Olympian was taken into custody for “driving under influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs,” as indicated by records from the West Virginia Magistrate Court system.
Retton is facing one misdemeanor count of DUI. She was released on the same day after posting a $1,500 bond. News of her arrest began circulating on Monday.
Retton, a household name since the 1980s, previously made headlines in 2023 when her daughters revealed her battle with a rare and severe form of pneumonia that required intensive care in a hospital. The family sought public assistance through a crowdfunding campaign, which garnered significant support, raising $200,000 within a day. Retton later spoke about the life-threatening health scare in a January 2024 interview on the “Today” show, expressing immense gratitude for her recovery and acknowledging that there was a time when doctors considered putting her on life support.
Mary Lou Retton achieved widespread fame after her remarkable performance at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. She became the first American woman to win a gold medal in the all-around competition and also secured two silver and two bronze medals during the same Games. Her Olympic achievements led to her being named Sportsperson of the Year by Sports Illustrated in 1984. Retton was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 1997 and has made appearances in various films and television shows, including a 1993 episode of “Baywatch” and the 1994 movie “Naked Gun 33 ¹/₃: The Final Insult.”
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