- Sally Robbins stopped rowing in the women’s eight final at the 2004 Olympics
- At the time she was nicknamed ‘Lay Down Sally’ after disappointing her teammates.
- Now, 20 years later, Robbins has made two startling statements
She is the Olympian who infuriated Australia, nicknamed ‘Lay Down Sally’ by furious crowds when she stopped rowing during the Olympic rowing final at the 2004 Games.
And now, two decades later, Sally Robbins has taken to social media to declare that she’s finally at peace with her past after becoming a household name for all the wrong reasons.
Robbins, now 42, became an instant sporting villain when she stopped rowing in the women’s eight final at the Athens Games, denying Australia any chance of a medal.
At the time, Robbins claimed that sheer exhaustion caused him to stop rowing 600 meters from the finish line.
“Suddenly, I got tired and couldn’t move,” she said. “It was like you were paralyzed and you hit a wall.”
Many of her teammates were furious as the Australians were widely considered a gold medal contender before finishing a distant last due to her breakdown.
Twenty years later, Robbins has completely distanced himself from the saga, judging by two illuminating messages on social media prior to the Paris Olympics.
“I’m at peace with my past and excited about my future,” Robbins said. posted on Instagram last month.
Sally Robbins was criticised as ‘Lay Down Sally’ when she stopped rowing during the women’s eight final at the 2004 Athens Games.
Robbins (pictured, right, at the 2004 Olympics in Athens) has now taken to social media to declare she is at peace with her infamous sporting past.
Robbins during an emotional interview with the Seven Network after the incident.
She too Posted ‘Happy Olympic Day’ on June 23in which the Perth-based holistic health coach and yoga teacher spoke about her previous existence as an Olympian.
The message to Australian athletes concluded: “Once an Olympian, always an Olympian.”
“Getting this message on my phone every year always brings tears to my eyes,” Robbins posted.
‘I am very proud to be an Olympian and I wish all the best to our upcoming Olympians in Paris.
“We all support you and know how much hard work you’ve put in to get here. I’m so grateful for the support I’ve received from near and far.
“Let’s support our athletes this year… let’s send them a message: they will receive it and it makes a big difference.”
Robbins (far right) during a press conference following the national scandal
The former women’s eight-metre rower is now a holistic health coach and yoga teacher in Perth (pictured in her studio)
Last month on Instagram, Robbins declared she was “at peace with my past and excited for my future” (pictured).
Robbins also shared her reaction to a message she received as a former Olympian ahead of the Paris Games this month.
Robbins, who now goes by Sally Cameron after adopting her husband’s surname, previously ran a yoga studio northeast of Brisbane’s city centre.
The couple also have a daughter, Aria.
After failing to qualify for rowing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Robbins switched sports and tried competitive cycling.
She competed in the Western Australian National Women’s Road Series and the Australian Institute of Sport as a domestic and time trialist before deciding to retire from competitive sport altogether.
The Paris Olympic Games will be held from July 26 to August 11.
