The Olympian is back in the pool, and beating the blues.
It’s early morning and the water is cold, but Libby Trickett dives straight in, without hesitation or much of a splash. Back in the pool again after quitting the sport last December, swimming’s golden girl is on a mission, determined that with every stroke she will lift her mood, brighten her life – and heal her three-year marriage.
The 25-year-old’s bond with husband Luke has been under strain during her months of battling the blues, say friends, who reveal Libby’s retirement from her glittering career took a heavy toll on their relationship.
“When she gave up swimming, Libby thought she’d instantly feel more carefree and less stressed, but it wasn’t like that – instead, the feeling of loss was devastating for her, and also for Luke,” says one fellow Aussie swimmer.
“Neither of them understood just how entrenched the sport was in their life together. It’s how they met, as teenage swimmers representing Australia, and they married just as Libby’s fame was taking off, so it’s always been an intrinsic part of their lives.
“You can joke that there were three of them in the marriage, but swimming is at the very heart of their relationship. Without it, something seemed to be missing.”
