Olympic Gold Medalist Mary Lou Retton Arrested, Igniting Public Reactions – Here's What We Know

The American sports icon is facing legal troubles amid her ongoing medical challenges and lack of health insurance.

Police arrested Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton earlier this month in Marion County, West Virginia, on a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence, according to official court records. Netizens who learned of her arrest gave mixed reactions.

New information released by authorities on May 28 reveals that police responded to a report of a Porsche "driving all over the roadway" on the Gateway Connector headed toward downtown Fairmont on May 17, 2025.

Officers later found Retton sitting in her car in the parking lot of a nearby AutoZone with a screw-top bottle of wine in the passenger seat.

According to the criminal complaint, officers noted that Retton smelled of alcohol and was slurring her words. She was asked to perform three standard field sobriety tests, all of which indicated signs of impairment. Retton declined to submit to a blood alcohol test.

The Magistrate Court of Marion County filed the case State v. Mary L. Retton-Kelly on May 17, the same day as her arrest. According to court records, prosecutors formally charged Retton with one count of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol, controlled substances, or drugs, under West Virginia Code 17C-05-02.

Along with the charge, officials filed a misdemeanor complaint and a warrant affidavit. The court set a $1,500 personal recognizance bond, which Retton paid in full. She received a rights sheet, and court staff issued a formal notice of her right to a hearing.

Magistrate Melissa Pride Linger presided over the bond proceedings, while the case record also names law enforcement officer T. Davis and Magistrate Brian Shuck in connection with the filing. As of this writing, no future court hearings have been scheduled.

The incident has sparked strong reactions online. One netizen commented, "Poor woman." Others criticized the incident more sharply. "No excuses for drunk driving she isn't special," wrote another.

A third typed, "Once again, it doesn't matter WHO YOU ARE, DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. NO. EXCUSES." Someone else added, "She shouldn't get a pass because she's old and sick. She could have killed somebody. 😳"

Some commenters expressed shame over her actions. One said she should not be treated differently because of her Olympic background, pointing out that she likely has the money to handle the situation. This person also said they didn't feel sorry for her.

One commenter expressed concern, suggesting that Retton may be going through a downward turn in her life. Others showed sympathy, referencing her past health issues and expressing hope that she gets the support she needs.

Some defended her, saying that she is human like everyone else and that people should not judge her too harshly for making mistakes.

On the same day as the police update, Retton appeared on "Entertainment Tonight," where she spoke openly about her health crisis. "My daughter stepped up to the plate and they saved my life," she said.

The former gymnast described the severity of her condition, saying, "I can't imagine them seeing me on my deathbed," and recalled how unrecognizable she looked in photos from that time.

Retton added that the illness left her permanently impacted, "Yes, my lungs are pretty scarred up and they're going to stay that way... Forever."

In 2023, a Spotfund campaign organized by Retton's daughter, McKenna Kelley, revealed that the former Olympian had been battling a rare and serious form of pneumonia. Kelley wrote that her mother was in the ICU, unable to breathe on her own, and uninsured at the time.

The campaign was launched to help cover hospital expenses and quickly exceeded its $50,000 goal, raising $459,354 from 8,320 donors as of this writing.

Retton reportedly had no health insurance at the time, which prompted questions and concern from the public.

In a January 2024 interview with USA Today Sports, Kelley said the cost of coverage was out of reach. "Due to her medical history and the amount of surgeries she has endured from gymnastics and just life, it's unaffordable for her," she revealed.

Kelley said her mother has had more than 30 orthopedic surgeries, including four hip replacements, and lives with chronic pain every day.

She also explained that Retton had previously been insured but lost her coverage when the pandemic halted her work. "She was about to get [health insurance] again but didn't, and then she got sick," she said.

Despite Retton's continued visibility in the Olympic community and a speaking fee reportedly exceeding $25,000, her family faced financial strain during her illness.

Retton had moved to a smaller home nearly a decade earlier and divorced former University of Texas quarterback Shannon Kelley in 2018 after 27 years of marriage.

Kelley said she and her sisters decided to launch the fundraiser out of deep concern for their mother's condition, not because of her public status. They felt "helpless" as Retton struggled to breathe, and turning to online fundraising became the only action they could take.

Kelley explained that their decision to ask for help was personal. To her and her sisters, Retton is not a celebrity. "She's our mom. She would ground us, she would make us clean our room, she'd make us dinner, she'd be the shoulder to cry on, she is the joy and light of our lives and we wanted to help," she shared.