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Mary Lou Retton, the celebrated Olympic gymnast who became America's sweetheart in the 1980s, was arrested earlier this month in West Virginia on a misdemeanor DUI charge, casting a shadow over her legacy just months after her miraculous recovery from a life-threatening illness.
Retton was taken into custody on May 17 in Marion County, West Virginia. According to online records from the West Virginia Magistrate Court system, she was charged with "driving under influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs." She was released later that day after posting a $1,500 bond.
The arrest marks a troubling development for the former Olympian, whose recent public appearances had been centered around her courageous battle with a rare form of pneumonia.
In 2023, her daughters revealed that she had been hospitalized and placed in an intensive care unit as doctors fought to save her life. The news shocked the sports world and led to an outpouring of .
From Olympic glory to recent troubles
Retton rose to fame during the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where she delivered a performance that captivated a nation. At just 16 years old, she won five medals, including the gold in the women's all-around competition-the first time an American woman had ever taken home that title.
Her victories also included two silver medals and two bronze medals, capping off one of the most iconic performances in gymnastics history.
Her Olympic triumphs earned her widespread recognition. That same year, Sports Illustrated named her its Sportsperson of the Year, solidifying her place in American sports lore. Retton would go on to become a household name, featured on Wheaties boxes, television commercials, and a variety of entertainment appearances, including a guest spot on Baywatch in 1993 and a role in the comedy Naked Gun 33 : The Final Insult in 1994.
In 1997, she was inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame, an honor that enshrined her contribution to the sport. For decades, Retton served as a symbol of strength, athleticism, and national pride-making her recent legal troubles all the more jarring.