Libby Trickett’s life complete with birth of third daughter

Olympian Libby Trickett has battled some dark times with mental illness, but a little ray of sunshine has shown her the true meaning of life.

LIBBY Trickett says big changes in life can be daunting after having a history with post-natal depression, but the moment her little Bronte Rose was in her arms her heart was complete.

When the former Olympic swimmer and her husband Luke felt there was something missing from their family, they decided to have a third baby, and welcomed the arrival of Bronte eight weeks ago.

Olympic gold medallist Libby Trickett shares honest parenting photo

Swimmer Libby Trickett has welcomed her third baby girl

Libby Trickett’s heartbreaking battle with mental illness

Trickett has been candid about her previous struggles with post-natal depression, baring her soul in her memoir Beneath the Surface, but things are going well for the champion swimmer who says it’s been the easiest transition so far.

“I think whenever you have such a change in your life it can be always quite daunting, and especially for me knowing that I’ve had a history of post-natal depression, and it’s certainly something we are acutely aware of,” Trickett said.

“We’ve been really lucky, Bronte’s been quite lovely so far and quite, in inverted commas, an easy baby.

“There’s lots of emotions that go on in every family and in everyday life, and I think for me it’s just being on top of it.”

One of the ways Trickett keeps her mental boosted is through exercise, which she has recently been cleared to start back at.

Libby Trickett with two of her daughters Poppy, 4, and Bronte Rose, seven weeks. Picture: Mark Cranitch

“Bronte’s was an interesting birth, I had a surprise C-section which wasn’t anticipated or on my plan, but I’ve been really lucky with the recovery,” she said.

“For my mental health exercise is sort of a non-negotiable, so I’m looking forward to getting back into it.”

Trickett will be easing back into exercise her favourite way – swimming – but the only competition will be doing more and more laps to raise money for an important cause.

She and fellow Queenslander, pro-surfing champion Mick Fanning, will throw their support behind Starlight Children’s Foundation’s annual Super Swim challenge, supported by Speedo, from January 26 to February 24.

Last year’s inaugural event raised more than $400,000 for sick kids, anyone can get involved by completing a swim at any location and tracking the distance they’ve swum for friends and family to donate for every kilometre or lap.

Trickett has been an ambassador for the Starlight Children’s Foundation for many years, but the cause is even more important to her since starting her own family.