- Simon Burgess left his wife in ‘fear for her life’ during shocking assault
- The Olympic rower has pleaded guilty following an incident in December
- He won silver at the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004
An Olympic rowing silver medallist entered his former partner’s home wearing black gloves before straddling and slapping her in bed and punching a hole in a wall.
Simon Burgess, who has 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 bowl to hit Burgess in the head to try to make him stop, a court heard.
He started bleeding profusely but continued to ‘rant’ and slap the woman, about eight times in total.
‘(Burgess) produced paper from 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 ‘clenched fist’ to punch a hole in the wall above the bed, after earlier arriving wearing black rubber gloves.
The woman ran from the house and flagged down a passing motorcyclist who helped until police arrived.
Simon Burgess (left) left his wife in fear for her life during his assault of her
The Aussie Olympic silver medallist (second left) has pleaded guilty to assault in court
Burgess, who was later arrested at his home, said he thought the family violence order had expired and was expecting a ‘civil conversation’.
In an initial police interview he said he could not see why the woman was fearful 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 his seven days in police custody after being arrested were ‘horrific’ for someone who had never been involved in the justice system.
She said because of Burgess’ public profile as one of Australia’s greatest rowers, he had a fall from grace that others might not experience.
‘That is something he has felt very deeply,’ she said.
Burgess had experienced mental health issues, considered taking his own life in 2021 and was using alcohol as a coping mechanism.
Ms Morgan said he was the subject of vitriol from his ex-wife’s family after they split and was fearful he would lose the family farm in the wash-up.
Burgess, who pleaded guilty to the majority of the charges in January, suffered memory loss after being hit with the bowl.
He entered pleas of guilty after reviewing the police interview, Ms Morgan said.
Burgess (second right) won silver for Australia at the Olympic Games in Athens 20 years ago
Burgess was remorseful, conceded he was entitled and self-serving by going to the woman’s home and regretted hurting her, Ms Morgan said.
‘At the time he was angry, sad and felt broken,’ she added.
Burgess has undertaken a ‘very challenging’ Relationships Australia course, doesn’t drink 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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