Geoff Huegill breaks silence following his shock split from wife Sara

Geoff Huegill has spoken out for the first time since announcing last week he had separated from his publicist wife Sara

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Monday, the 39-year-old former Olympic swimmer praised Sara, 35, as an ‘amazing woman’. 

He said: ‘Sara is an amazing woman and the best mother you will ever meet’. 

EXCLUSIVE: ‘She’s an amazing woman and the best mother you will ever meet’: Geoff Huegill has broken his silence following his split from wife Sara. The couple are pictured leaving Waverley Local Court in Sydney on May 14, 2014 regarding cocaine possession charges

He added: ‘Her priorities are our beautiful girls and anyone who has seen her with them will agree on these claims.’  

Geoff would not comment, however, on a report by Woman’s Day on Monday which alleged his wife’s shoplifting arrest – which took place in May and resulted in the charge being dropped three months later – was ‘the final straw’ in the pair’s marriage.

A source close to the couple had claimed the former athlete reached breaking point when Sara was accused of stealing a pair of $2,500 Bassike trousers from a clothing store in Byron Bay on Mother’s Day.  

'Her priorities are our beautiful girls': Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Monday, the 39-year-old former Olympic swimmer praised Sara as an 'amazing woman'. Pictured before their split

‘Her priorities are our beautiful girls’: Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Monday, the 39-year-old former Olympic swimmer praised Sara as an ‘amazing woman’. Pictured before their split

‘Geoff has had enough,’ the insider claimed, in reference to Sara’s shoplifting charge.

The source added that the estranged couple will be ‘relocating to different states’ following their separation. 

Sara, who is currently based on the Gold Coast, is reportedly moving to Tasmania with her daughters – Mila, six, and Gigi, four – to live closer to her father, Andrew.   

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Sara Huegill for further comment.

It's over! Geoff and his publicist wife Sara announced last week they had decided to 'amicably' separate. Pictured on November 13, 2012 in Sydney

It’s over! Geoff and his publicist wife Sara announced last week they had decided to ‘amicably’ separate. Pictured on November 13, 2012 in Sydney

Last week, in a statement released via Instagram, the couple announced they had ‘amicably’ ended their marriage after 13 years together. 

Geoff said in the statement: ‘It’s with a heavy heart that after 13 years together, Sara and I have made the decision to amicably separate. 

‘We continue to remain friends as our focus will always be on providing a positive, loving and beautiful future for our girls.’ 

Geoff and Sara married in Bali, Indonesia in 2011 and share two children.  

'We continue to remain friends': Geoff said in his statement, 'It's with a heavy heart that after 13 years together, Sara and I have made the decision to amicably separate'

‘We continue to remain friends’: Geoff said in his statement, ‘It’s with a heavy heart that after 13 years together, Sara and I have made the decision to amicably separate’

'Our focus will always be our girls': Geoff and Sara married in Bali, Indonesia in 2011 and share two young children: daughters Gigi, six, and Mila, four (pictured)

‘Our focus will always be our girls’: Geoff and Sara married in Bali, Indonesia in 2011 and share two young children: daughters Gigi, six, and Mila, four (pictured)

The separation followed a difficult year for the Huegills, after Sara was arrested for shoplifting in Byron Bay on May 12. 

But in August, the magistrate found that Sara had a mental illness and was suffering from ‘adjustment, depressive, eating and substance abuse disorder’.

The magistrate also acknowledged the socialite’s remorse and dropped the charge on mental health grounds. 

Sara’s lawyer had previously said in a statement that she was being treated for issues related to anxiety and depression. 

Trying times: The separation followed a difficult year for the Huegills, after Sara was arrested for shoplifting in May before the charge was dropped three months later due to her 'mental health issues'. Pictured: Sara and Geoff leaving Waverley Local Court in Sydney on May 14, 2014 regarding an unrelated legal matter

Trying times: The separation followed a difficult year for the Huegills, after Sara was arrested for shoplifting in May before the charge was dropped three months later due to her ‘mental health issues’. Pictured: Sara and Geoff leaving Waverley Local Court in Sydney on May 14, 2014 regarding an unrelated legal matter

The last post: In June, Geoff expressed support for Sara on Instagram before her shoplifting charge was eventually dropped. It would be his last post referencing his wife before announcing their separation on Friday 

The last post: In June, Geoff expressed support for Sara on Instagram before her shoplifting charge was eventually dropped. It would be his last post referencing his wife before announcing their separation on Friday 

In June, Geoff expressed support for Sara on Instagram before her charge was eventually dropped. It would be his last post referencing his wife before announcing their separation on Friday.

‘For now, my primary focus is to make sure that the health and well-being of my best friend is managed, so she can be the best person she can be for herself and for our family,’ he wrote at the time. 

‘At times, good people make poor choices. We all trip over and make mistakes and unfortunately, we let others down. But that doesn’t make us bad people. I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation to those who have supported us and those who continue to support us in these challenging times.’

‘Naturally there are two sides to every story, and there will be a time, when we as a family will share our side,’ Geoff concluded.

Sara had not been pictured with Geoff on her personal Instagram account for several months.

Making headlines: The former couple have experienced their fair share of scandals over the years. In 2014, they were arrested for cocaine use at Sydney's Randwick Racecourse and later pleaded guilty to drug possession

Making headlines: The former couple have experienced their fair share of scandals over the years. In 2014, they were arrested for cocaine use at Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse and later pleaded guilty to drug possession

Meanwhile, the estranged couple have experienced their fair share of scandals over the years. 

Geoff and Sara were arrested for cocaine use in 2014 while at Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse.

Both pleaded guilty to drug possession and were handed six-month good behaviour bonds.

Rivals: Known for her on-again, off-again friendship with Roxy Jacenko (pictured), Sara also made headlines last year when she left Roxy's company Sweaty Betty PR for a second time

Rivals: Known for her on-again, off-again friendship with Roxy Jacenko (pictured), Sara also made headlines last year when she left Roxy’s company Sweaty Betty PR for a second time

Known for her on-again, off-again friendship with Roxy Jacenko, Sara also made headlines last year when she left Roxy’s company Sweaty Betty PR for the second time.

She had initially worked for the 38-year-old businesswoman until 2010, when her employment was abruptly terminated for ‘disloyal conduct’.

But after rekindling their friendship in 2017, Sara was rehired as a senior publicist, before parting ways with the firm less than three months later.

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Have they been separated for months? Sara had not been pictured with Geoff on her personal Instagram account for several months

Have they been separated for months? Sara had not been pictured with Geoff on her personal Instagram account for several months

The highs and lows of the Huegills

2005 – Geoff and Sara meet in Brisbane

2010 – Geoff returns to competitive swimming for the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, where he wins gold medals in the 4 × 100 metre medley and the 100 metre butterfly

2010 – Sara’s employment with Roxy Jacenko’s Sweaty Betty PR is abruptly terminated for ‘disloyal conduct’

2011 – After four years of dating, Geoff and Sara get married in Bali, Indonesia

2012 – It’s rumoured Sara is the inspiration for Roxy’s fictional ‘sticky-fingered publicist’ character in her first novel

2012 – Sara gives birth to first child, daughter Gigi

2014 – The couple welcome their second daughter, Mila

2014 – Geoff and Sara are arrested for cocaine use in 2014 at Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse. Both plead guilty to drug possession and are handed six-month good behaviour bonds

2017 – After rekindling their friendship in 2017, Sara is rehired as a senior publicist by Roxy, before leaving the firm less than three months later.

May 2018 – Sara is accused of stealing a pair of Bassike pants from a clothing store in Byron Bay on Mother’s Day and later charged with shoplifting

August 2018 – Magistrate drops the shoplifting charge after they find that Sara has a mental illness and is suffering from ‘adjustment, depressive, eating and substance abuse disorder’

December 2018 – Geoff announces his split from Sara

 

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