Where does Mary Lou Retton live? What we know as Olympic medalist arrested for DUI in West Virginia

Mary Lou Retton, the iconic American gymnast who gained fame thanks to her performance during the 1984 Summer Olympics, is making headlines once again.

This time, the gymnast has made news for facing legal trouble in her native state of West Virginia. The 57-year-old was arrested in Fairmont, West Virginia, on May 17, 2025, and charged with misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The arrest has renewed interest in where the Olympic champion is living now. Despite getting in trouble recently with West Virginia law, Mary Lou Retton has always been a Houston, Texas girl.

According to the New York Post, Retton is a longtime Houston resident who moved to the city as a teenager to train with the legendary gymnastics coach Béla Károlyi and has since made it her home. Over the years, Retton has been involved in Houston’s gymnastics and sports world and is, in fact, the first woman to be inducted into the Houston Sports Hall of Fame in 2020.

There is other evidence that suggests her settlement in Texas. For example, she has participated in several Houston-based events. She also showed up at the Autograph Show of Texas in 2023. Though Retton has been closely linked to Texas, she herself has never confirmed residing there.

Mary Lou Retton has worked with brands including Foxy’s Leotards and has co-hosted gymnastics invitationals with her daughter McKenna. Out of her four daughters, three have competed in college gymnastics.

More about Mary Lou Retton's health challenges amidst her recent arrest

Retton has been plagued with some health issues in recent years. In late 2023, she was hospitalized with an uncommonly severe form of pneumonia, which kept her in intensive care for weeks.

The episode received a lot of public support through fundraising campaigns after her family disclosed that she had no health insurance. The campaign surpassed expectations by raising more than $450,000, including contributions from high-profile supporters such as Houston philanthropists Jim and Linda McIngvale.

At that time, McKenna Kelley, one of Mary Lou Retton’s daughters, wrote on Instagram stating that her mother was slowly but gradually improving her health:

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"Though it’s a lengthy journey, witnessing these improvements is incredibly heartening. She’s beginning to respond to treatments." Kelley wrote.

Retton has not made a public statement on the DUI arrest or her current health struggles. Though she has deep ties to Texas, her recent arrest in Fairmont may indicate that she still retains connections in her home state of West Virginia. She was born and raised in Fairmont. After her victory at the Olympics, her hometown paid tribute to her by renaming a street “Mary Lou Retton Drive.”

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