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News of the Mary Lou Retton DUI arrest has shocked fans and set the blogosphere abuzz as police bodycam footage of the incident hit the internet. The former Olympian once dubbed “America’s Sweetheart” was stopped by police on May 17th in downtown Fairmont, West Virginia.
Erratic Driving and an Open Container
West Virginia police stopped Retton in an AutoZone parking lot following reports of a Porsche driving erratically.
Court documents reveal that police spotted an open wine bottle in the passenger seat at the time of the arrest. Police also asserted that Retton smelled of alcohol and was slurring her speech during the initial contact.
Police Bodycam Footage Released
Police bodycam footage shows Retton telling officers she’s an Olympic medalist in the balance beam before being required to exit her vehicle and submit to the required field sobriety tests. After failing the tests, Retton reportedly began to argue and was eventually placed in the police car.
Retton pleaded no contest and was charged with a first offense DUI. She later released a statement and accepted complete responsibility for her actions that day.
The statement was made public by her attorney. In it Retton mentioned being determined to learn from the event and make positive life changes. She also thanked everyone for their encouragement and support.
A Significant Health Scare
The Mary Lou Retton DUI arrest comes in the aftermath of a significant health scare. She was hospitalized for pneumonia and spent time in the ICU for low oxygen levels in 2023. She was reportedly using supplemental oxygen at the time of her arrest.
Retton faced backlash in the wake of her medical crisis for her daughter’s creation of a fund to help Retton pay her medical expenses. Critics loudly questioned how a former Olympian could be unable to provide for her own medical care. But the reality is that health insurance is not always easily accessible, even for former champions.
And the impacts of a medical crisis and the financial constraints that often accompany it can endure long after the body is out of danger. These effects can contribute to patterns of drug and alcohol misuse in an attempt to cope with past medical traumas or current pain. And that in turn can give rise to addiction.
It’s unknown whether Retton’s DUI arrest is the result of one evening’s poor judgment, an untreated substance use disorder or an addiction relapse. But no matter the cause the takeaway is the same. Substance misuse can happen to any of us. We are all human and we all struggle sometimes, even America’s Sweethearts. And we all deserve empathy, compassion and support.
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