Mitcham says he used drugs
Source: AFP |
November 18, 2012, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AUSTRALIAN Olympic gold medalist Matthew Mitcham beat a secret methamphetamine addiction in the lead-up to the London Games, according to a report yesterday which reveals his battle with depression.
Coming hard on revelations that Australian swimming star Ian Thorpe also fought anxiety and depression, Mitcham has revealed in a new book that cripplingly low self-esteem and injury had helped lead the way to drug abuse.
"Taking it was something I did ... to take my mind off things that were upsetting me - to make me feel better about myself," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Mitcham as saying.
Mitcham, who performed the highest scoring dive in Olympic history to come from behind and snatch gold in the 10-meter platform in Beijing in 2008, spearheaded Australia's diving team heading into London.
But he missed a place in the Olympic diving finals.
In a book to be released tomorrow, "Twists and Turns", Mitcham reveals that he turned to clubbing, binge drinking and recreational drugs early in his career to relieve the exertions of training and problems with diving officials.
He quit the sport in 2006, but six months later was back training under a new coach and the partnership led to his Olympic gold.
Coming hard on revelations that Australian swimming star Ian Thorpe also fought anxiety and depression, Mitcham has revealed in a new book that cripplingly low self-esteem and injury had helped lead the way to drug abuse.
"Taking it was something I did ... to take my mind off things that were upsetting me - to make me feel better about myself," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Mitcham as saying.
Mitcham, who performed the highest scoring dive in Olympic history to come from behind and snatch gold in the 10-meter platform in Beijing in 2008, spearheaded Australia's diving team heading into London.
But he missed a place in the Olympic diving finals.
In a book to be released tomorrow, "Twists and Turns", Mitcham reveals that he turned to clubbing, binge drinking and recreational drugs early in his career to relieve the exertions of training and problems with diving officials.
He quit the sport in 2006, but six months later was back training under a new coach and the partnership led to his Olympic gold.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
