- Simon Burgess left his wife ‘in fear for her life’ during shocking attack
- Olympic rower has pleaded guilty to December incident
- He won silver at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens
An Olympic rowing silver medalist entered his former partner’s home, wore black gloves, sat on her, knocked her into bed and punched a hole in the wall.
Simon Burgess, who represented Australia at three Games, pleaded guilty to assault and breaching domestic violence orders over the incident in southern Tasmania in December 2023.
The 57-year-old’s ex-wife feared for her life and hit Burgess over the head with a glass bowl in an attempt to get him to stop, the court heard.
He began to bleed profusely but continued to rant and hit the woman, approximately 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 District Court on Wednesday.
Burgess continued to sit on the woman and hit her whenever she said something he didn’t like.
He also punched a hole in the wall above the bed with a “clenched fist” after arriving earlier in the day wearing black rubber gloves.
The woman ran from the house and flagged down a passing motorcyclist who helped her until police arrived.
Simon Burgess (left) left his wife in fear for her life when he attacked her
The Australian Olympic silver medallist (second from left) has pleaded guilty in court to assault
Burgess, who was later arrested at home, said he believed the domestic violence ban had expired and that he expected a “civil conversation.”
During an initial police interview, he said he could not understand why the woman was afraid of him and denied she was wearing gloves, despite CCTV footage showing otherwise.
Burgess, whose bail was extended, is expected to be sentenced in October.
His lawyer Philippa Morgan said the seven days he spent in police custody after his arrest were “horrific” for someone who had never been in trouble with the law before.
She said Burgess’s public reputation as one of Australia’s best rowers meant he suffered a downfall in life that others might not experience.
“That’s something he feels very deeply,” she said.
Burgess struggled with mental health issues, contemplating suicide in 2021 and using alcohol as a coping mechanism.
Mrs Morgan said he had been the target of vicious criticism from his ex-wife’s family after they split and that he feared losing the family farm.
Burgess, who pleaded guilty to most charges in January, suffered memory loss after being struck with the bowl.
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 showed remorse, admitting that he had a right to do so and that he had only gone to the woman’s home for his own benefit. He also regretted hurting her, Morgan said.
“He was angry, sad and feeling broken at the time,” she added.
Burgess has completed a “very challenging” Relationships Australia course, has cut down on her drinking and has worked hard with a psychologist and psychiatrist.
Burgess won silver at the Athens Olympics and competed in ten World Rowing Championships between 1990 and 2003.
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