Once celebrated as America’s sweetheart and Olympic icon, Mary Lou Retton has returned to the spotlight under troubling circumstances. The 57-year-old gymnastics legend, who won five medals at the 1984 Olympics—including the first all-around gold by an American woman—was arrested for DUI in her hometown of Fairmont, West Virginia, on May 17. According to police, officers responded to reports of a swerving Porsche and found Retton in an AutoZone parking lot, showing signs of impairment, including slurred speech and the smell of alcohol. A bottle of wine was discovered beside her, and she refused a blood test before being charged with a misdemeanor DUI count and released on a $1,500 bond.

The arrest follows a tumultuous period in Retton’s life, including a near-fatal health crisis in October 2023. She was hospitalized with a rare form of pneumonia and spent time in the ICU, relying on a ventilator to breathe. Her daughter revealed that Retton was uninsured at the time, sparking a viral Spotfund campaign that raised over $459,000 to cover her medical expenses. Retton later defended the fundraiser, stating that all funds went toward her treatment and that any remaining money would be donated to the American Lung Association.