- Simon Burgess left his wife ‘fearing for her life’ during shocking assault
- The Olympic rower pleaded guilty after an incident in December
- She won silver at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
An Olympic rowing silver medallist walked into his ex-partner’s home wearing black gloves before straddling her, slapping her on the bed and punching a hole in the wall.
Simon Burgess, who represented Australia at three Games, pleaded guilty to assault and breaching family violence orders over the incident in southern Tasmania in December 2023.
The 57-year-old’s ex-wife feared for her life and used a glass container to hit Burgess over the head in an attempt to get him to stop, a court heard.
He began bleeding profusely, but continued to rant and slap the woman, about eight times in total.
“(Burgess) pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and said, ‘You’re going to choke on this,'” prosecutor Andrew Lockley told Hobart Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Burgess continued to straddle the woman and slapped her every time she said something he didn’t like.
He also used a ‘closed fist’ to punch a hole in the wall above the bed, having arrived earlier wearing black rubber gloves.
The woman ran out of the house and flagged down a passing motorcyclist, who helped her until police arrived.
Simon Burgess (left) left his wife fearing for her life during the attack.
The Australian Olympic silver medallist (second from left) pleaded guilty to assault in court.
Burgess, who was later arrested at his home, said he thought the family violence order had expired and he was looking forward to a “civil conversation”.
In an initial interview with police, he said he could not understand why the woman was afraid of him and denied wearing gloves despite CCTV evidence showing otherwise.
Burgess, whose bail was continued, is expected to be sentenced in October.
His lawyer, Philippa Morgan, said the seven days he spent in police custody after being arrested were “horrible” for someone who had never been involved in the justice system.
She said that because of Burgess’s public profile as one of Australia’s top rowers, he suffered a fall from grace that others might not experience.
“That’s something he’s felt very deeply,” he said.
Burgess had been experiencing mental health issues, considered taking his own life in 2021, and was using alcohol as a coping mechanism.
Ms Morgan said she was the target of criticism from her ex-wife’s family after they split and was afraid of losing the family farm in the process.
Burgess, who pleaded guilty to most of the charges in January, suffered memory loss after being hit with the container.
He pleaded guilty after reviewing the police interview, Ms. Morgan said.
Burgess (second from right) won silver for Australia at the Athens Olympics 20 years ago
Burgess was remorseful, acknowledged he had a right and was acting in self-interest by going to the woman’s home and regretted hurting her, Morgan said.
“At that moment he was angry, sad and felt devastated,” he added.
Burgess has completed a “very demanding” course with Relationships Australia, is not drinking as much and has worked hard with a psychologist and psychiatrist.
Burgess won silver at the Athens Olympics and competed in 10 World Rowing Championships between 1990 and 2003.
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