Following her DUI arrest, Mary Lou Retton, the Olympic gold medalist, has issued a sincere apology for her actions. It’s the first time she has spoken publicly since the incident that occurred last month, which has shocked many.
In a court appearance in West Virginia on Tuesday, the 57-year-old former gymnast expressed remorse and acknowledged the gravity of her behavior, describing it as ‘completely unacceptable.’
The incident took place on May 17 when Retton was discovered in her vehicle in a parking lot with a screw-top wine bottle visible on the passenger seat. She then refused to undergo a blood alcohol test, adding to the seriousness of the situation.
In court on Tuesday, Retton entered a no contest plea to a non-aggravated DUI charge, receiving a $100 fine – the standard amount for a first-time offense.
‘I take full responsibility for my actions,’ she told PEOPLE after the court hearing, her first public statement on the incident nearly a month on.
‘What happened was completely unacceptable,’ she added, through her attorney Edmund J. Rollo. ‘I make no excuses. To my family, friends and my fans: I have let you down, and for that I am deeply sorry.
Mary Lou Retton has spoken out for the first time since being arrested for DUI in West Virginia
Retton, who famously won gold at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, was apologetic
‘I am determined to learn and grow from this experience, and I am committed to making positive changes in my life. I truly appreciate your concern, encouragement and continued support.’
In addition, she asked for ‘privacy as she moves forward with her personal and professional life.’
The arrest in West Virginia came after police responded to reporters of a Porsche with a Texas license plate driving ‘all over the roadway’, per court documents.
Police claimed Retton was slurring her words when they found her, and three standard field sobriety tests found her to be impaired, according to WDTV.
Retton previously courted controversy in 2023, when she was hospitalized with a rare form of pneumonia and her family set up a Spotfund page for support, which went on to raise over half a million dollars.
In 2023, her four daughters faced scrutiny over $500k worth of donations they raised for her
Retton (pictured in 1984) was found in her car with a screw-top bottle of wine alongside her
Retton vaulted her way to gold with a perfect score of 10 and became an overnight sensation
The family soon drew criticism after refusing to clarify where the donations would be going. Retton’s claim to not have insurance was also doubted by some.
Just over a year since the illness left her fighting for her life in a hospital ICU, news of her booze-fueled antics sparked concern as she continues to undergo treatment for long Covid and lung problems.
And according to Shaun Kelley, the brother of her ex-husband Shannon, just one drink is capable of causing a chemical imbalance in Mary Lou’s brain because of the medications she’s currently taking.
‘She couldn’t even take a full breath when I talked to her, she takes these little panting breaths,’ Shaun told The New York Post about his ex-sister-in-law last week, whom he says has no history of alcohol abuse.
He also added: ‘She is on all these meds and one drink could throw off her brain chemistry.’
The Olympic champion was left fighting for her life in hospital with pneumonia back in 2023
Retton pictured with then-American President Ronald Regan after her historic success
Last year, Retton opened up on her health issues in an interview with PEOPLE, claiming that ‘God wasn’t ready for me yet’ after her battle with pneumonia.
‘It’s been really hard,’ she added. ‘My lungs are so scarred. It will be a lifetime of recovery. My physicality was the only thing I had and it was all taken away from me. It’s embarrassing.’
Retton is a five-time Olympic medalist, winning gold in the All-Around gymnastics event at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles when she was just 16.
She was catapulted into superstardom and became arguably the most famous woman in America in the years that followed.
