The American gymnastics legend was driving her Porsche erratically when police stopped her on May 17 in her West Virginia hometown.
Mary Lou Retton, the renowned American gymnast, recently pleaded no contest to a charge of driving under the influence after being stopped in Fairmont, her hometown, in May.
Upon her plea, a judge in Marion County imposed a $100 fine, in line with the standard penalties for a first-time offense without aggravating factors, as confirmed by her attorney Edmund J. Rollo.
In a statement released through her attorney, the 57-year-old Retton said she took full responsibility for her actions.
In response to the incident, Retton admitted wrongdoing and took full responsibility, expressing her regret and apologies to her loved ones and fans. She acknowledged the need to learn and evolve from this event and promised to enact positive changes in her life, while also expressing gratitude for the ongoing support she has received.
Fairmont police stopped Retton on May 17 following a report about a person in a Porsche driving erratically. According to the criminal complaint, Retton smelled of alcohol and was slurring her words, and she failed a field sobriety test. Officers also reported observing a container of wine in the passenger seat.
Retton was 16 when she became the first American female gymnast to win the all-around at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. She also won two silver and two bronze medals to help bring gymnastics into the mainstream in the United States.
In 2023, Retton’s family disclosed she was recuperating from a rare form of pneumonia that landed her in intensive care. Doctors found her oxygen levels dangerously low. Her medical team considered putting her on a ventilator as her conditioned worsened. Retton went on oxygen treatment and, after weeks in the hospital, improved enough to be sent home.
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