New details emerge in Olympic gold medalist's West Virginia DUI arrest

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2 days ago

New details have emerged about the arrest of Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton.
On May 17, Retton was arrested in her hometown of West Virginia on charges of 'driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs; penalties,' according to court records.
Retton, 57, was stopped by Fairmount Police after they received a report of a person in a Porsche driving erratically, The Associated Press reported. The gymnast smelled of alcohol, was slurring her words and failed a field sobriety test, police said. Officers also reported seeing a container of wine on the passenger seat.
Retton had refused a roadside breath test and blood test, AP added, and was released from custody after paying a $1,500 personal recognizance bond.
Retton's attorney, Edmund J. Rollo of Morgantown, did not immediately respond to requests from AP seeking comment.
Retton became the first American woman to win the all-around gold medal in Olympic gymnastics at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. Retton won two silver medals and two bronze medals that year as well.
In 2023, Retton was 'fighting for her life' in the ICU battling a 'very rare form of pneumonia,' her daughter said on social media.
McKenna Kelley, Retton's daughter, asked for prayers and donations for her ailing mother on her Instagram story.
'Hey everyone! On behalf of my sisters and I, we need y'all's help,' Kelley wrote at the time on SpotFund. 'My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life. She is not able to breathe on her own. She's been in the ICU for over a week now. Out of respect for her and her privacy, I will not disclose all details. However, I will disclose that she is not insured.'
Retton, who competed on the 27th season of 'Dancing with the Stars' in 2018, told PEOPLE in 2024 that her odds of surviving were slim.
'They prayed over me, and McKenna said, 'Mommy, it's OK, you can go.' I didn't have much of a relationship with my mother, but I can't imagine what that was like, to watch their mom on her deathbed,' Retton told the outlet.
Despite pulling through, the former gymnast said she felt like she would 'never be the same' again.
'It's been really hard. My lungs are so scarred. It will be a lifetime of recovery,' Retton told PEOPLE. 'My physicality was the only thing I had, and it was taken away from me. It's embarrassing.'
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Read the original article on MassLive.