Newly released police footage shows Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton visibly stunned during her May 17 arrest in Marion County, West Virginia, for driving under the influence. The former gymnastics champion, now 56, expressed disbelief after failing multiple field sobriety tests. She was charged with DUI involving alcohol and controlled substances and released on $1,500 bond.
Bodycam footage captures Retton struggling to follow the officer’s instructions while repeatedly removing and replacing her oxygen tubes. Retton suffered a rare pneumonia in 2023 and has endured serious health issues since. Despite her condition, the officer conducted a full field sobriety evaluation, during which Retton failed each test.
During the encounter, Retton admitted she did not have her driver’s license with her, claiming it was in Texas. Instead, she presented a passport. When the officer informed her of the test results, she reacted with surprise, saying, “I what!?” The officer reiterated that she had failed all components of the field sobriety test. Retton firmly responded, “No, I didn’t!” She also refused to take a breathalyzer test.
Following public release of her arrest footage and mugshot, Retton issued a statement accepting responsibility. “I take full responsibility for my actions,” she said through her attorney, Edmund J. Rollo. “What happened was completely unacceptable. I make no excuses.” Retton also apologized to her family, fans, and supporters, pledging to make meaningful changes.
Retton entered a no-contest plea in court and received a $100 fine from a Marion County judge. She has not been sentenced to jail time or probation.
Mary Lou Retton made history in 1984 as the first American woman to win the Olympic all-around gymnastics title at just 16 years old. Her perfect scores on the vault and floor exercise during the Los Angeles Games cemented her legacy as a national icon.
