Mary Lou Retton pleads no contest to DUI charge, vows to make ‘positive changes'
Gymnastics legend Mary Lou Retton pleaded no contest Tuesday to a DUI charge that stemmed from her arrest last month in her hometown of Fairmont, W.Va.
In a statement emailed to The Times, attorney Edmund J. Rollo said a Marion County judge fined his client $100. Rollo said that the amount is 'consistent with sentencing guidelines for first-time, non-aggravated offenses in this jurisdiction.'
According to the Associated Press, Retton was pulled over on May 17 by police responding to a report about a Porsche being driven erratically. The 57-year-old former Olympic athlete is said to have smelled of alcohol, slurred her words and failed a field sobriety test. And officers said they observed a container of wine in the passenger seat.
Retton reportedly refused a roadside breath test and a blood test. She was arrested and charged with a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs. Court records show Retton was released after posting a personal recognizance bond of $1,500.
'What happened was completely unacceptable. I make no excuses,' Retton said in a statement released Tuesday by Rollo. 'To my family, friends and my fans: I have let you down, and for that I am deeply sorry. 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.'
Retton became a household name during the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, when she became the first U.S. gymnast to win Olympic gold in the all-around competition and won five medals overall.
On Oct. 10, 2023, Retton's daughter, McKenna Kelley, revealed that her mother had 'a very rare form of pneumonia' and was 'fighting for her life' in intensive care without being covered by medical insurance. An online fundraiser has raised nearly $500,000 to help cover medical costs for Retton, who was released from the hospital later that month.
In a January 2024 interview with NBC News, Retton said she was 'not great yet' in terms of her recovery. 'I don't know how long I'll indefinitely need the oxygen,' she said while gesturing toward her nasal tube.
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