Geoff Huegill joins list of swimmers who have called time on their marriage

Over almost two decades, the lives and marriages of some of our best-loved Olympic swimmers have fallen apart. This week Geoff Huegill announced he had split from his wife of seven years Sara. Is it a Olympic curse? SEE WHO ELSE HAS SPLIT.

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• Geoff Huegill announces split with wife

Over almost two decades, the lives and marriages of some of our best-loved Olympic swimmers have fallen apart.

When Geoff Huegill this week announced he had split from his wife of seven years Sara Huegill, they joined a long list of professional swimmers whose marriages have not lasted.

Among Huegill’s teammates, Michael and Lindy Klim split in 2016 after 10 years of marriage, Grant Hackett and Candice Alley divorced in 2012 after five years and Keiren and Samantha Perkins called time on their marriage in 2012 after 15 years.

Geoff Huegill announced he split from his wife Sara earlier this week. Picture: Caroline McCredie/Getty Images

Michael Klim and Lindy Klim split in 2016. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Grant Hackett and wife Candice Alley separated in 2012.

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These divorces were messy, public and, one sports psychologist suggests, virtually inevitable.

“The personality attributes required to succeed at the highest level often aren’t compatible with maintaining interpersonal relationships,” performance psychologist Jonah Oliver said.

“These people are almost obsessed with the pursuit of excellence and it can come at a cost of thinking about others. Also, those who really shine under pressure often have a lower concern for other people’s opinions … which again means they are maybe more prone to be a little less attuned to other people’s needs. On one side you see these people really successful and thriving in a tough environment, but it often comes at the detriment of relationships around them.”

Keiren Perkins split from his wife Samantha in 2012.

Oliver believes relationships often breakdown after retirement, with elite athletes unable to shift mindsets from focusing on sport to family.

“The psychological adjustment to retirement and a change in identity can have significant consequences,” he said. “Also, elite athletes partner early, so that’s interesting. A lot … partner younger because it’s quite a lonely career. When you are stressed and under pressure you want someone to lean on.”

Originally published as Geoff Huegill joins list of swimmers who have called time on their marriage