Olympian Samantha Riley and ironman husband Tim Fydler quietly split

Triple Olympic medallist Samantha Riley has quietly split with her iron man husband after 22 years of marriage – as she’s seen returning to her Gold Coast home with a mystery man. 

Close friends of the couple have confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that Riley, 50, and champion iron man husband Tim Fydler, 48, are now living separately, but co-parenting their three sons in Palm Beach on the Gold Coast.

Both Riley and Fydler were photographed recently without their wedding rings, with a close friend of both saying their separation has been in place ‘for some time’.

‘But they remain amicable for their boys,’ the friend added.

Tim Fydler seen enjoying a day of jet-skiing on the Gold Coast recently

The sporting glamour couple made headlines in 2001 when they married after a whirlwind romance.

Riley, then 29, had achieved international fame as one of Australia’s top breaststroke swimmers, competing at the Olympics in Barcelona in 1992 and 1996 in Atlanta, winning two bronze and a silver. She also won two gold at the 1994 World Championships in Rome. 

Fydler is a Queensland ironman champion whose brother is Olympic relay gold-medallist Chris Fydler.

Riley and Fydler married at a star-studded event in 2001 and relocated to the Gold Coast from Brisbane where they established a successful swim school chain as well as running several Snap Fitness gym franchises.

Riley remains one of Australia’s most famous swimmers and dominated breaststroke in the 1990s

Fydler is a former Queensland ironman champion who now operates a number of Snap Fitness gyms

Riley was spotted returning home with a mystery friend after a trip away (above)

The couple also invested wisely in real estate, selling their lavish waterfront Burleigh Waters home in 2018 for $1.85million and snapping up a sprawling Palm Beach mansion for $2.6million.

They also own a beachfront apartment on Palm Beach’s coveted Jefferson Lane.

Despite being one of Australian sport’s most famous couples, Riley and Fydler are notoriously guarded and have given just a handful of interviews in the last 20 years.

But a friend close to the couple told Daily Mail Australia the couple’s separation is well-known among their inner circle but that the pair remain on friendly terms. 

Both Riley and Fydler have both been contacted for comment. 

The couple has three sons including 20-year-old budding rugby union star Isaac Fydler who is the spitting image of his Olympian mum. 

Eldest son Isaac Fydler, a budding rugby star, is the spitting image of his mum

Sam Riley sighted at Burleigh Heads catching up with friends recently

A friend close to both Riley and Fydler (above at the couple’s Gold Coast home) tells Daily Mail Australia the couple’s separation is well known to their inner circle but that the pair remain on friendly terms.

Riley remains on good terms with her husband despite the split

Riley achieved international fame as one of Australia’s top breaststroke swimmers, competing at the Olympics in Barcelona in 1992 and 1996 in Atlanta

Most recently Riley spoke publicly following a lengthy court battle with prominent swim coach Alex Brown over a former swim school operation at Capalaba, southeast of Brisbane.

The Summer Swim facility, which traded as Capalaba Swim Stars, went bankrupt just four months after Ms Riley sold it to Brown in September 2014.

Mr Brown claimed in court Ms Riley agreed to train the new owner and staff for six months after the business changed hands.

Mr Brown launched a $1.5million lawsuit claiming lost revenue however the case was finally tossed out in 2019 and Riley awarded a $90,000 counterclaim.

At the time the ex-Olympian spoke about the ordeal and the emotional and financial strain it had put on she and Fydler.

‘Everyone deserves to have their day in court, but this has just been a nightmare,’ Riley told the Courier Mail.

‘He (Brown) has lost case after case but he just keeps lodging these ridiculous applications that have taken a huge toll on us financially and emotionally. It’s like there’s no stopping him.’

Riley was seen recently returning home with a man after a trip away