Driving ban for drunk Olympic gymnast

An Australian Olympic gymnast caught drink driving on her way to McDonald's has received a reduced sentence after mortgaging her house to pay for rehabilitation.

Kylie Shadbolt, who competed at the 1992 Barcelona Games and was the first Australian gymnast to win an international event, pleaded guilty after registering more than six times the legal limit in June this year.

When pulled over in Cairns at 5.45pm, she told police that she was going to McDonald's and later admitted her 0.314 blood-alcohol reading was the result of drinking vodka since 3am.

The 42-year-old told the Cairns Magistrate Court she'd used alcohol as an emotional crutch but was now looking forward to a "bright future" after spending $64,000 on a seven-week rehabilitation program.

"I'm very pleased I have got the help I needed," she said on Tuesday.

"I'm never going near alcohol again."

Magistrate Trevor Black took into account Ms Shadbolt's early plea and her financial investment toward recovery.

"You have saved the community the costs of that and obviously you are going to rejoin the community as a worthy citizen," he said.

Ms Shadbolt was sentenced to nine months without a licence and fined $300.