Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton, once hailed as America’s gymnastics sweetheart, was arrested for DUI in May after being found disoriented with a bottle of wine in her car, with newly released bodycam footage showing her struggling to complete a sobriety test while gasping for breath — a distressing turn that highlights her ongoing health battles and leaves fans heartbroken and concerned.

Olympic legend Mary Lou Retton, once America’s sweetheart for her groundbreaking gold medal win in gymnastics at the 1984 Summer Olympics, is now making headlines for a far more sobering reason.

Bodycam footage released this week captures the harrowing moment of her DUI arrest in Fairmont, West Virginia, back in May, showing the 57-year-old former athlete visibly distressed, confused, and struggling to perform a sobriety test while gasping for breath and fumbling with her oxygen tube.

The arrest took place on the evening of May 17, 2025, after officers responded to reports of a suspicious vehicle parked outside an AutoZone in Marion County.

According to the police report, Retton was found seated in her car with a screw-top bottle of wine in the front passenger seat. Eyewitness accounts and the arresting officer’s testimony noted that she appeared disoriented and slurred her words during questioning.

Bodycam footage, which has since circulated online and through national media outlets, shows Retton attempting to comply with the officer’s commands to perform a field sobriety test.

Dressed casually and visibly shaken, Retton repeatedly gasps, “Oh my God,” as she tries to follow the instructions. When asked to lift one foot six inches off the ground and count aloud, she struggles to maintain balance and has difficulty counting past nine.

Midway through the test, she is seen reaching for a nasal oxygen tube, looping it around her ears and inserting it under her nose in an effort to breathe more comfortably.

The moment is heartbreaking for longtime fans who once watched her dazzle the world with gravity-defying flips and unshakable poise.

Once hailed as the face of American gymnastics, Retton made history as the first U.S. woman to win the individual all-around Olympic gold medal, inspiring generations of athletes with her beaming smile and flawless routines. But in recent years, her health has taken a dramatic turn.

She revealed in 2024 that she nearly died from a severe case of pneumonia in 2023, which left her lungs permanently scarred and required daily oxygen support — a devastating blow to someone whose life had been defined by physical vitality.

During the incident, officers noted her visibly labored breathing and impaired coordination, but Retton remained cooperative. Her vulnerability was on full display as she tried, and failed, to complete the physical portion of the test.

Despite the serious nature of the arrest, the footage shows officers maintaining a professional tone, guiding her through the process while Retton grew increasingly emotional.

Following the arrest, she was charged with a non-aggravated first-time DUI offense. She later entered a no contest plea, a legal move that neither admits nor disputes the charge but accepts conviction.

As per local regulations, she was issued a \$100 fine — the standard penalty for first-time DUI charges without aggravating circumstances in Marion County.

In a public statement released through her attorney, Retton addressed the incident head-on.

“What happened was completely unacceptable. I make no excuses. To my family, friends, and my fans: I have let you down, and for that I am deeply sorry,” she said, expressing regret and a willingness to take full responsibility for her actions.

The arrest and its aftermath have prompted renewed concern for Retton’s well-being, both physically and emotionally. After her near-death experience in 2023, she spoke openly about her ongoing health struggles, telling interviewers that she faced a lifetime of recovery.

“My physicality was the only thing I had, and it was taken away from me,” she said at the time. “It’s embarrassing.” Those words now carry even more weight as she grapples with the consequences of this latest chapter in her life.

Retton’s arrest is a stark reminder of how fame and physical excellence do not insulate individuals from personal hardship, vulnerability, or human error.

For many, seeing the beloved athlete in such a frail and disoriented state is jarring — a painful contrast to the energetic young woman who once leapt into America’s hearts on the Olympic floor.

As public conversation swirls around the incident, her fans and former teammates have expressed support and hope that she gets the help she needs.

While Retton has stepped back from the public eye in recent years, her story — now marked by both triumph and struggle — continues to resonate.

The footage may be difficult to watch, but it underscores an important truth: even icons are human. For Mary Lou Retton, the path forward may be uncertain, but her willingness to take accountability may prove to be the first step toward healing.