On May 17, 2025, Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton was arrested in Fairmont, West Virginia, on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence (DUI). According to court documents, police responded to reports of erratic driving and found Retton in a parking lot. Officers observed a screw-top bottle of wine in the passenger seat of her Porsche, noted that she was slurring her speech, and detected a strong odor of alcohol. Retton failed three field sobriety tests and refused both a roadside breath test and a chemical blood test. She was released the same day on a $1,500 bond.
Retton, 57, is renowned for her historic performance at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, where she became the first American woman to win the individual all-around gold medal in gymnastics. She also earned two silver and two bronze medals at those Games.
In 2023, Retton faced a severe health crisis when she was hospitalized with a rare form of pneumonia, spending over a week in intensive care and unable to breathe on her own. Her family launched a fundraising campaign to cover medical expenses, raising over $450,000, as she lacked health insurance.
As of now, Retton and her representatives have not publicly commented on the DUI charge. The incident marks a significant moment in the life of an athlete who once symbolized American excellence in sports.
