Olympic swimmer Duncan Armstrong reveals test every Aussie needs to know about to prevent heart attack

Nearly five years on from a shock heart attack that nearly ended with suicide, Olympic gold medallist Duncan Armstrong has revealed a little known test could have prevented it all.

Duncan Armstrong has revealed a little-known test could have prevented his heart attack.

Nearly five years on from a shock heart attack that nearly ended with suicide, Olympic gold medallist Duncan Armstrong has revealed a little known test could have prevented it all.

The Australian swimming legend has been candid about the heart attack he suffered he in 2020 and how he thought about taking his life during the darkest of times in the aftermath.

Fit and healthy by any measure, Armstrong thought he was in the clear given he had no issues with cholesterol or blood pressure.

Now he has revealed a CT calcium scan would have been the key indicator that helped him avoid an episode that nearly took his life.

“I didn’t even know I was ill,” he said.

“My cholesterol and blood pressure weren’t too bad, so I didn’t get any indication I was so close to losing the lot.

Duncan Armstrong (right) with his wife Rebecca and children Ava, Noah and Isaac.

“I never even thought to check my calcium score with a simple CT Calcium scan.

“That scan would have sent the appropriate warning to my GP and I could have taken plenty of different preventative measures to reduce my risk of heart attack.

“As an ex-athlete I deeply understand my body, so the heart attack came as a tremendous shock in the moment.

“If you’re reading this and you’ve never heard of CT Calcium scan then please ask your GP to get your first one,” he said.

“It’s non-invasive, you leave your clothes on, in any suburb, takes 20 minutes and costs about $50.

“Healthy calcium score will be from zero to 400, and it’s the only time in your life you want to be a zero.

“This scan could save your life.”

Duncan Armstrong celebrates winning gold in the 200m freestyle at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.

It was a regular Tuesday afternoon in November 2020 when Armstrong had just returned to the office after spending his lunch hour at the gym, as usual.

Armstrong strolled the halls with a grin and wave but then felt a pain in his stomach but passed it off as indigestion.

When the time came to pick up his three kids from school the pain remained in his stomach but had also spread to his arm.

“I was flicking my arm while sitting in the waiting bay of the school pick-up and I then realised I was having a heart attack,” he said.

In a state of shock the then 52-year-old ‘stupidly’ drove himself to St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Chermside, leaving multiple voicemails on his wife Rebecca’s phone to meet him at the hospital.

In a moment of confusion Armstrong missed the emergency entrance to St Vincent’s, instead looping the levelled car park for an empty space.

“I ended up getting a park on level four and by this point I was hobbling, crying and struggling to breathe,” he said.
“I got close to the lift but there was a couple and their baby going in and due to Covid restrictions I couldn’t enter.

“I staggered down the ramps of the car park and onto the grass in front of the hospital entrance and that’s when my wife rang me back.”

Armstrong said while speaking with Rebecca the pain disappeared.

“I thought it might’ve been a spasm because I could stand up straight, was breathing again and talking normally so I went to walk back to my car and my legs gave out,” he said.

“I turned around again, got into the hospital foyer and the last thing I remember is telling the receptionist I had chest pain before immediately collapsing and needing to be revived.

“It was definitely the scariest moment of my life.”

Duncan Armstrong deep sea fishing.

After testing and undergoing an angiogram, it was determined one of his major vessels was 98 per cent blocked, another was 84 per cent blocked, and a third was 78 per cent blocked.

He required an emergency stent before heading in for a triple bypass open heart surgery the following morning.

“I was in shock after the pain of the heart attack, the diagnosis of my cardiologist and then a decision to crack my chest to perform the bypass surgery,” he said.

The former champion swimmer, who became a household name when he claimed one of only three Olympic Gold medals that Australia won at the Seoul Games in 1988, had maintained an active and healthy lifestyle ever since retiring from the professional scene.

At the time of his health scare Armstrong was working in an executive role for Telstra in Brisbane’s CBD while also doing motivational speaking gigs on the side.

“I’ve always had clear plans about my life and in just an hour my whole future was now in doubt,” he said.

“My ability as a husband, father and provider was all dependent on the surgery and how it affected me going forward into rehab and hopefully recovery.

“It was hard lying in that hospital bed to be optimistic, I felt so dreadful.”

Duncan Armstrong is now an ambassador for the Heart Research Institute.

Armstrong spent the following 10 days in hospital before recovering enough to transition home.

“I took a long time afterwards to get my confidence back, probably around 18 months before I was back to who I was,” he said.

“The medication I was taking was giving me severe side-effects and depression was the worst of them.

“My mind and emotions went to some very very dark places but to help recover I quit work and my family and I headed off in a camper-trailer around Queensland for around 12 months.

“It was an amazing trip with so many beautiful places and quality time with my gorgeous kids and wife.

“It worked and for the past four years I’ve been myself again and enjoying my life.”

Since relocating to the Sunshine Coast Duncan and his wife Rebecca are embracing the slower pace of life.

“I do a lot of paddling on my stand up paddle board and I still go to the gym a lot because I like the mirrors,” he said with a laugh.

“All three of our kids are active so we’re with them a lot through rock climbing and rugby union with the USC Barbarians.”

Duncan had two kids, Branston and Tom, from his first marriage, welcoming his first grandchild in 2022.

In January Armstrong came on board to work as an ambassador for the Heart Research Institute.

“HRI do incredible work for so many Australians like me who suffer from some form of heart disease.

“HRI are a dedicated group of researchers and supporters who chase breakthrough after breakthrough to help find better ways to detect, treat and overcome heart disease.

“Heart disease is the biggest killer of Aussies and HRI is determined to do something about it.

“I love them, their passion, drive and overwhelming desire to make a difference to our children and grandchildren to come.

“HRI’s mindset reminds me a lot of being part of Olympic Teams, that single-minded focus on the ultimate outcome.”

If you or someone you know needs assistance call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.

Originally published as Olympic swimmer Duncan Armstrong reveals test every Aussie needs to know about to prevent heart attack