I’m A Celebrity 2018: Josh Gibson reveals how OCD, AFL demands interfered with relationships

THREE-TIME AFL premiership star Josh Gibson has opened up on why he ventured into the I’m A Celebrity jungle and how obsessive compulsive disorder and the demands of top-level football have interfered with his relationships.

FORMER AFL champion Josh Gibson is moving from one jungle to another — the ex-Hawk is relocating to Sydney.

Gibson has left the South African wilderness after lasting five weeks on Channel 10’s I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here.

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But his return to Melbourne will be fleeting. Gibson is moving to Sydney to work for a skincare company, and also plans to help promote AFL in the Harbour City.

“I still love football and I’m a firm believer that I must give back to the game that has given me so much,” Gibson told Confidential.

“There’s not a lot of ex AFL players in Sydney. I’d really love to help some of the teams in Sydney. I love the game, and I think I’ve got a little bit of knowledge about it.

He added: “I’ve spent my whole life in Melbourne, but I’m excited about getting out and spreading my wings.”

Josh Gibson is moving to Sydney. Picture: Nigel Wright/Network Ten

Gibson said he went into the jungle to show a different side of himself, and to deal with his obsessive compulsive disorder.

Indeed, he said OCD combined with the demands of top-level football interfered with his relationships.

“Football is a selfish lifestyle,” he said.

“Some people handle that better than others. If you have that OCD mentality, it probably did affect my relationships. But I don’t have any regrets in life. On the flip side, I was able to retire from football knowing I gave the game everything I had.”

Asked how the jungle changed him, Gibson said: “I learned to understand that everything is not in my control, and that’s OK.”

He also said Channel 10 didn’t mind him going shirtless for most of the time.

Gibson denied speculation about his seemingly close relationship in the jungle with model Simone Holtznagel.

“It’s 100 per cent just friends. We were very surprised to hear we were dating.”

Josh Gibson has denied speculation about his seemingly close relationship in the jungle with model Simone Holtznagel. Picture: Network Ten

Asked how the jungle changed him, Gibson said: “I learned to understand that everything is not in my control, and that’s OK.”
He also said Channel 10 didn’t mind him going shirtless for most of the competition.

“It was stinking hot and 35 degrees every day and night,” Gibson said, laughing. “It saved me from washing my shirt every morning.”