Mary Lou Retton fined $100, speaks out following DUI arrest
The Brief
Mary Lou Retton pleaded no contest to a DUI charge after a May traffic stop in her hometown and was fined $100 as a first-time offender.
Police said she smelled of alcohol, slurred her words, and failed a sobriety test; wine was found in her vehicle.
Retton took full responsibility, apologized publicly, and said she was committed to personal growth after the incident.
FAIRMONT, W. Va. - Olympic gymnastics legend Mary Lou Retton on Tuesday entered a no contest plea to driving under the influence stemming from a traffic stop and arrest in her homtown in West Virginia last month.
A Marion County judge fined Retton $100, consistent with sentencing guidelines for first-time, non-aggravated offenses, her attorney Edmund J. Rollo said in a statement.
What they're saying
In a statement released through her attorney, the 57-year-old Retton said she took full responsibility for her actions.
"What happened was completely unacceptable. I make no excuses," she said. "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."
Dig deeper
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.
EARLIER: Olympic legend Mary Lou Retton arrested on DUI charge, records show
Retton was charged with one count of driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs on May 17, according to Marion County court records. She was released from jail after posting a personal recognizance bond of $1,500.
The backstory
Retton was 16 when she became the first American female gymnast to win the all-around title at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The native of Fairmont, West Virginia, also won two silver and two bronze medals at those Summer Games to help bring gymnastics — a sport long dominated by eastern European powers like Romania and the Soviet Union — into the mainstream in the U.S.
RELATED:Mary Lou Retton says she's a 'fighter' as she recuperates at home following pneumonia scare
Retton became the first woman to be featured on the front of a Wheaties cereal box. She retired from competitive gymnastics in 1986 and did numerous commercial endorsements. She also made several film and television appearances, including a stint on "Dancing with the Stars." She and her husband, Shannon Kelley, divorced in 2018.
After she retired from gymnastics, Retton became a motivational speaker and frequently shared messages about the benefits of proper nutrition and exercise.
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.
The Source
The Associated Press, FOX News contributed to this story. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
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