BREAKING NEWS Olympic legend Mary Lou Retton speaks out for the first time since DUI arrest
Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton has issued a groveling apology in the wake of her DUI arrest, speaking out for the first time since the shocking incident last month.
The 57-year-old retired gymnast appeared in court in West Virginia on Tuesday and has now spoken out for the first time, opening up on her 'completely unacceptable' actions.
On May 17, Retton was found in her car in a parking lot with a screw-top bottle of wine on the passenger seat, before refusing to have her blood tested for alcohol.
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.
'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.'
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.
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.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Club World Cup predictions: Outright tips and odds
Our expert has five outright tips for this year's Club World Cup, including selections in the outright winner, group betting and top goalscorer markets. We think Bayern Munich in particular could be in for a strong tournament in the United States. Bayern Munich to win the Club World Cup @ 13/2 with Paddy Power Borussia Dortmund to reach the quarter-finals @ 13/10 with Paddy Power Palmeiras to win Group A @ 9/5 with Paddy Power Al-Hilal to qualify from Group H @ 11/10 with Paddy Power Harry Kane top goalscorer @ 7/1 with Paddy Power Odds courtesy of Paddy Power Correct at the time of publication and subject to change. Already a Paddy Power member? Check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts. Bundesliga pair can make most of favourable draw Three teams – Real Madrid, PSG and Manchester City – are above Bayern Munich in the outright betting for the Club World Cup, which runs from June 14 to July 13, but the Bavarians are the value selection at 13/2. Having wrapped up the Bundesliga in early May after exiting the Champions League in April, Bayern should be a touch fresher than other market leaders. They were also unlucky to exit the Champions League in the quarter-final stage against Inter Milan, having dominated both legs with 40 shots recorded in total. Their squad is talented and deep, with Jonathan Tah arriving from Bayer Leverkusen in time for this tournament, while star attacking midfielder Jamal Musiala will be raring to go after recovering from an injury that meant he missed the last few weeks of the season. Vincent Kompany's side will be eased into the Club World Cup with games against Auckland City and Boca Juniors, and if they win Group C they would be likely to face Flamengo, Esperance de Tunis or Los Angeles FC in the last 16. Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund are worth a wager at 13/10 to reach the quarter-finals of the Club World Cup. Dortmund endured a tricky 2024-25 season but they are in a better place under Niko Kovac and finished the campaign strongly with seven wins and a draw from their last eight games. The fact they have secured Jobe Bellingham from Sunderland in time for this tournament shows they will be taking it seriously and the 2023-24 Champions League runners-up find themselves in one of the easier groups with Fluminense, Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns in Group F. Brazilians could surprise a few Bettors will have to work hard to find value in the group betting but Palmeiras are a good pick at 9/5 to win Group A, while Saudi side Al-Hilal are worth backing to make it out of Group H at 11/10. In Group A, Brazilians Palmeiras are joined by Porto, Lionel Messi's Inter Miami and Egyptian Premier League side Al-Ahly. Porto go into this tournament after a really poor season in which they finished third in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, while they exited the Europa League in the first knockout round and the Taça de Portugal at the last-32 stage. Inter Miami have the wow factor with Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets but all are past their prime and the MLS club could struggle to match the standards of European and South American opponents, having had a stop-start season domestically. Al-Ahly are a force in African football but could struggle in this section and it is asking a lot of new head coach Jose Riveiro to get them out of the group just weeks after taking charge. Palmeiras qualified for the Club World Cup thanks to their 2021 triumph in the Copa Libertadores but they were also Brazilian Serie A champions in 2022 and 2023. Chelsea-bound teenager Estevao is a star in the making and will want to show what he is about, while Facundo Torres and former Bayer Leverkusen and Atletico Madrid ace Paulinho are serious dangers in attack. Palmeiras are an organised group who play at high intensity and they could be in for a good campaign. Five-time Club World Cup champions Real Madrid are unsurprising favourites to win Group H but they could be joined in the last 16 by Al-Hilal, who can finish above Red Bull Salzburg and Pachuca. In Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Ruben Neves, Kalidou Koulibaly, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Joao Cancelo, Malcom and Salem Al-Dawsari, the Saudi Pro League outfit have genuine quality in their ranks and the appointment of former Inter boss Simone Inzaghi as manager could be a masterstroke. Experience Kane targets more silverware Kylian Mbappe is 5/1 favourite to be Club World Cup top goalscorer but the Frenchman was not even Real Madrid's leading scorer in the past season's Champions League. Instead, the value is with Harry Kane at 7/1. Starved of silverware at Tottenham Hotspur, the England frontman will be eager to add to his Bundesliga success with Bayern Munich in 2024-25 and the Germans should go far in the tournament. Kane netted 26 goals in 31 appearances in the German top flight this past campaign, averaging a goal every 92 minutes, and only Raphinha and Serhou Guirassy (both 13) bettered his tally of 11 goals in the Champions League despite Bayern exiting in the quarter-finals. Given Bayern's opening match is against New Zealand Northern League side Auckland City, the Three Lions hitman has a great chance to get going with goals in this tournament.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Great Britain's most successful alpine ski racer Dave Ryding to retire
Dave Ryding, Great Britain's most successful alpine ski racer, will retire at the end of the 2025-26 season. The 38-year-old made history in January 2022 by becoming the first British alpine skier to win World Cup gold thanks to victory in the Kitzbuhel slalom. He hopes to compete at the fifth Winter Olympics of his career in February next year at the Milan-Cortina Games in Italy. 'Competing internationally, representing my country on the World Cup circuit, and going to four Olympic Games so far has been the privilege of a lifetime,' Ryding said in a statement. 'I've always said that I'd only carry on for as long as I think I can perform to my best level, and making this decision now frees me up to give one last push to try and go one step further over the next season.' Lancashire-born Ryding has been a regular on the World Cup circuit since 2009 and achieved seven podium places, including his landmark gold. The slalom specialist finished sixth in the 2025 Alpine World Championships – Britain's best men's result since 1934. 'It's been one hell of a journey, and I've loved every second of it,' he said. 'Now it's time to make this final season a special one.'
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Aussie Olympian Heath Ryan is caught on video subjecting a horse to a shocking act 42 TIMES - but star insists it was actually a 'rescue mission'
Aussie Olympian Heath Ryan insists he was on a 'rescue mission' after horrific footage emerged of the international equestrian star whipping a horse more than 40 times at a private stable. Ryan, 66, who competed at the 2008 Games in Beijing in the dressage team event, issued a statement online after the confronting vision appeared on social media via US-based Facebook page Dressage Hub. He conceded the footage is 'awful' - but the Newcastle based rider maintained he was doing his utmost to ensure the horse wasn't sent to the slaughter house. Ryan also claimed the vision was posted 'by an unhappy ex-employee.' 'Oh my goodness! The most awful video of me on a young horse has just surfaced,' his lengthy Facebook post began. 'This horse was dropped off at my place on his way to the knackery. His name is Nico. He was 6 years of age. A beautiful type. '(After the repeated whipping) I rode Nico for another couple of days and he responded very well. 'All of this transpired sincerely with the horse's best interests the sole consideration. Heath Ryan's lengthy statement after the confronting vision appeared on social media via Facebook page Dressage Hub 'I (also) need to add that this happened about two years the video has been posted by an unhappy ex-employee. 'All I can say is that this awful video was collateral damage of me from the bottom of my heart launching a rescue mission.' Ryan has competed in equestrian events in Australia for decades, with his crowning achievement an appearance at the Beijing Olympics. He is also the brother of triple Olympic equestrian gold medallist Matt Ryan, who was part of the eventing team who famously stormed to victory at the Sydney Games in 2000. The incident follows British golden girl Charlotte Dujardin sensationally quitting just days before the 2024 Paris Olympics after a video emerged of her allegedly whipping a horse on the legs repeatedly. Last December, Dujardin was suspended from the sport for 12 months by the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI), as the six-time Olympic medallist conceded she made an 'an error of judgement' during a coaching session. Dujardin had returned to competition leading into Paris after giving birth to her first child Isabella in March of 2023.
