Olympic Icon’s Alarming Health Struggles Revealed After DUI Arrest

Mary Lou Retton is still battling serious health issues — and now her family is raising new concerns following her DUI arrest last month.

The 57-year-old gold medalist, best known for her groundbreaking performance at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, was arrested on May 17 in Marion County for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or controlled substances. She was released the same day after posting a $1,500 bond.

But according to her former brother-in-law Shaun Kelley, Retton’s condition is far from stable. He says the gymnast still can’t take a full breath and that even a single drink can dangerously disrupt her brain chemistry due to the medication she’s on.

“She couldn’t even take a full breath when I talked to her,” Shaun told the New York Post. “She takes these little panting breaths… one drink could throw off her brain chemistry.”

Retton, who nearly died in 2023 after being hospitalized with a rare form of pneumonia, is now reportedly dealing with the long-term effects of long Covid. Her breathing remains compromised, and she continues treatment at home in West Virginia.

Shaun, the brother of Retton’s ex-husband Shannon Kelley, emphasized that Mary Lou has no history of alcohol abuse. “She’s a great mother and a giving person,” he said. “She raised four amazing daughters. I just hope she gets better.”

Her DUI arrest has also reignited controversy over a crowdfunding campaign started by her daughters last year, which raised over $500,000 to cover her medical expenses. Critics have questioned where the money went and challenged the family’s claim that Retton was uninsured at the time.

Despite the public scrutiny, Retton has remained mostly out of sight since the arrest. In a tearful interview with People in 2024, she shared just how devastating the pneumonia had been.

“My lungs are so scarred,” she said. “It will be a lifetime of recovery… My physicality was the only thing I had and it was taken away from me. It’s embarrassing.”

Doctors had once warned her daughters to say their final goodbyes. “Girl, I should be dead,” Retton recalled. “They prayed over me. McKenna said, ‘Mommy, it’s OK, you can go.’”

Though she survived, the trauma still lingers. “We had a pretty scary setback,” she admitted. “But I guess God wasn’t ready for me yet.”

Retton’s future remains uncertain, but her family is hopeful she can pull through again — this time for good.