Aussie Winter Olympic hopeful's devastating admission before death
The Australian team will be competing with heavy hearts at the Winter Olympics in Beijing after the tragic death of aerial skier Brittany George.
The 24-year-old was found dead in Brisbane last week, six days after she was reported missing.
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George, who competed at a number of major international competitions for Australia, was part of the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia from 2017 to 2020.
However a serious back injury forced her into an early retirement and her dream of competing at the Winter Olympics was crushed.
Police said last week that her death wasn't being treated as suspicious and a report was being prepared for the coroner.
George had spoken candidly about her mental health struggles just a few months ago.
“It has literally been my whole life, I’ve been ‘the athlete’ from when I was 2 until when I was 20 or 21,” George told the 'Coaching the Mind' podcast in October.
“I did not have an identity. I was labelled the athlete from a very young age and just rode with it.
“I put everything in. My injuries (and) my schoolwork went second-hand, everything went second-hand to sport … It was absolutely all or nothing.”
Brittany George's struggle after early retirement
George said she struggled to find her identity after being forced to retire.
"You're an athlete but who am I? Who am I as a person? Who is Brittany? I don't know that," she said.
"I struggle every day to know who that is."
George’s father Constantine Gus said his daughter was in contention to represent Australia in Beijing before her back injury.
"She had the athletic prowess to adopt anything she tried and excel with it, but had that extra driven mentality to perfect her craft, which not many people will ever have," he told the Courier Mail.
“Britt was the most amazing, beautiful person from the very moment she was born.
“She shone like the brightest purest star, brought here from the heavens.
“Her eyes were full of wonder, knowledge, understanding (beyond her years) and her pure soul was just flowing with love and compassion for everyone.”
A GoFundMe page organised to help George's family has so far raised over $8000.
"Anyone who knew Brittany, knew that she was determined and courageous, whilst also caring and kind," the fundraiser page says.
"This was exemplified by her esteemed attributes as a former professional Elite Gymnast, and former Olympic Freestyle Aerial Skier with the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia.
"Travelling the world to do this, she met and impacted so many people’s lives in such a positive way that I am sure would last a lifetime."
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
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