Police bodycam footage captured the moment Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton was arrested for driving under the influence.
The 33-minute video, shared via YouTube by Entertainment Tonight on Tuesday, July 8, shows Retton, 57, speaking with authorities on May 17, who conducted a balance test with the athlete before providing her with the oxygen she requires due to lung damage from pneumonia in 2023.
The footage then shows Retton being cuffed by police and escorted into a police vehicle before being transported to a West Virginia police station for further examination.
In a statement provided to Us Weekly by Retton following her DUI charge, the gymnast said she took “full responsibility” for her actions. “What happened was completely unacceptable,” she told Us via the statement sent over on June 10. “I make no excuses. To my family, friends and my fans: I have let you down, and for that I am deeply sorry.”
Olympian Mary Lou Retton Breaks Silence on DUI Arrest
The bodycam footage also showed Retton, who received a $100 fine in light of the incident and also posted a personal recognizance bond of $1,500 that the court issued on the day of her arrest, growing increasingly distressed while seated within the police department’s office.
“You’re on your oxygen all the time,” a police officer is heard telling Retton, who responds, “I’m 24/7.” When the officer then suggests that she refills her oxygen at the hospital, Retton responds with, “No, f*** that. You’re terrible. I’ll die here.”
Retton is then seen deeply breathing and teary as she struggles to take in enough air as authorities radio one another to collect additional oxygen. She then refuses to take a test to determine her blood alcohol level.
During Retton’s statement to Us following the arrest, she added that she was “determined to grow” from the ordeal. “I am committed to making positive changes in my life. I truly appreciate your concern, encouragement and continued support,” she wrote at the time.
Olympian Mary Lou Retton Slurred, Had Wine in Passenger Seat Before Arrest
Retton became a household sporting name through her time at the 1984 Summer Olympics when she became the first American woman to win gold in the individual all-around competition in gymnastics.
She experienced a significant health battle in October 2023, spending two weeks in the ICU while battling a rare form of pneumonia.
Retton told Entertainment Tonight in May 2024 that her recovery will remain ongoing. “It’s a very long recovery, I’m still on oxygen, and I had a bit of a relapse a while ago, but I’m back and regulated,” Retton told the outlet at the time. “It’s just more discouragement than anything because, you know, patience isn’t one of my strong skill sets. I’m tired of this thing up my nose.”
