Mary Lou Retton Ends Up Behind Bars For DUI After Near-Death Pneumonia Battle

Olympic icon Mary Lou Retton is making headlines once again, this time for all the wrong reasons.

Mary Lou Retton's arrest comes just two years after she survived a terrifying, life-threatening health scare.

On May 17, the 57-year-old former gymnast, who became a national treasure after her gold-medal win at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, was arrested in Marion County, West Virginia, and charged with a misdemeanor for driving under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs, according to court records.

According to "Good Morning America," Retton was released the same day after posting a $1,500 bond. As of now, she has not entered a plea.

In 2023, she was hospitalized for nearly two weeks in the ICU with what she described as a "rare form of pneumonia," a condition that left her dependent on supplemental oxygen and struggling to regain her strength.

In a candid May 2024 interview with "Entertainment Tonight," Retton revealed she was still dealing with lingering health issues.

"I still have a hard time breathing and getting breath to speak," she shared, adding that her condition had kept her from returning to the motivational speaking circuit. "That's frustrating. It's been hard, I have to say."

Pneumonia, a lung infection that varies in severity, can be triggered by multiple sources, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and even parasites, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While it can affect people of all ages, the infection tends to pose a greater risk for young children, older adults, and individuals with underlying health conditions such as diabetes or chronic heart, lung, or liver disease. Additional risk factors include smoking and excessive alcohol use.

At the time of her illness, her daughters launched a fundraising campaign to help cover medical expenses, sparking controversy online.

"My amazing mom, Mary Lou, has a very rare form of pneumonia and is fighting for her life," one of her daughters wrote in the fundraising description. "She is not able to breathe on her own. She's been in the ICU for over a week now. Out of respect for her and her privacy, I will not disclose all details. However, I will disclose that she is not insured."

The daughter added, "We ask that if you could help in any way, that 1) you PRAY! and 2) if you could help us with finances for the hospital bill. ANYTHING, absolutely anything, would be so helpful for my family and my mom. Thank y'all so very much!"

At the time, one anonymous donor went viral after giving $200. "Watching you perform and win in the Olympics was a gift!" they shared alongside their donation. "As a young girl, seeing someone so humble and gracious when you received your medals was inspiring. We are holding you close in our hearts and prayers."

Critics, however, questioned why a former Wheaties cover star needed financial help, but Retton didn't waste any time defending her daughters' actions.

"The bills were and are still coming in," she said, making it clear that she did not have health insurance at the time. "I didn't even know that was happening until I came to a few weeks later."

"They were just trying to take care of me," she explained. "You're welcome to your opinion. But you weren't in that situation. My daughters stepped up to the plate and they saved my life."

Retton's storied legacy as a trailblazing gymnast includes five Olympic medals: one gold, two silvers, and two bronzes, making her the most decorated athlete of the 1984 Games. Her perfect 10s in Los Angeles made her a household name and the face of American gymnastics.

Now, fans are left shocked by this latest turn in her story as the former sweetheart of Team USA navigates a very different kind of spotlight.