’What scares me most’: Shayna Jack lifts lid on her biggest fear

Olympian Shayna Jack has endured a horror past five years with the swimmer revealing what terrifies her more than anything.

Shayna Jack has been through hell over the past five years, but the Australian swimmer has not only made it out the other side ... she’s on top of the world.

Jack became a household name in 2019 after she returned a positive test for the substance Ligandrol.

Jack was handed a four-year ban but had it reduced by two years following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

But almost five years on from a moment that rocked Australian sport, Jack is living her best life and now has two Olympic gold medals in her trophy cabinet.

With her life kicking goals both in and out of the pool, the 26-year-old is ready to make a major change to her routine as she steps into the jungle as a contestant on Channel 10’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

While the role will put her far from her comfort zone and the challenges that lay ahead may be daunting, Jack has overcome even greater hurdles than what reality television can dish up.

Although there is one thing that gives her pause with Jack revealing exactly what her biggest fear is ahead of the show getting underway.

“When I stand behind those blocks, I’ve prepared for it and I know what I’m doing, whereas going into the jungle, I have no idea what I’m doing,” Jack said to news.com.au

“I feel like every single trial I will be in complete and utter fear. And for me it’s actually fear that is my fear.

“That moment before you actually say yes to something, or that moment before you actually do something, that’s what scares me the most.”

Shayna Jack appearing before ASADA in 2019. Pic Annette Dew

Shayna in her jungle attire. Supplied: Channel 10.

As Jack prepared to head into the unknown, she reflected on the journey she had endured and the mountains she had climbed to not only make it back into the Australian swimming team ... but make it to the peak.

“Making the Olympic team was a huge triumph in itself,” Jack said.

“So anything that happened after it, I knew that I was proud of myself and proud of how far I’d come. And no matter what, no one could take that away from me. I’m forever an Olympian.”

Not only can she now be forever referred to as an Olympian, Jack must be referred to as an Olympic gold medallist.

The Aussie swimmer departed Paris with two medals in her suitcase after being a member of the women’s 4x100 metre freestyle relay and the women’s 4x200m freestyle relay.

“Standing on that podium and singing the national anthem. It was such a surreal moment,” she said.

“Having my family and my fiance in the stands just made it that much more special.”

Mollie O'Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon and Meg Harris celebrate with their gold medals. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

While she knows she has put the past behind her, she’s well aware that when she’s sitting around the campsite with her fellow contestants ... conversations will turn to the rollercoaster she endured.

“I feel like you become united with people on these experiences and I really look forward to that,” she said.

“Because in the end, I am an open person. I do love sharing my experiences, whether it is the highs and the lows. The lows obviously are harder to come to terms with at times and confront, but I’ve always said that I’ve wanted to be someone that talks openly so other people can understand that this is all part of being human.”

Jack has bounced back and achieved everything she wanted. Picture: Adam Head

Despite admitting she isn’t “someone that necessarily knows how to entertain people”, Jack is hoping to reign supreme and be crowned the queen of the jungle.

But if it doesn’t go according to plan, she has everything and more waiting at home after her partner of eight years, Joel Rintala, popped the question following the Paris Games.

“I definitely didn’t expect it to happen so soon (after the Olympics), but it was so special because it was completely out of his comfort zone. He doesn’t do that often,” Jack said.

“He knows that I’m a huge planner and so I was always, you know, guessing and trying to work things out. He was really keen on ensuring I didn’t know, and I was surprised and thrown off.”

Jack can expect plenty more surprises inside the jungle, but even if she doesn’t emerge as the victor ... she’s achieved more after going through hell than even she could have imagined.

I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! Sunday At 7.00pm And Monday to Thursday At 7.30pm on 10 and 10 Play.

Originally published as ’What scares me most’: Shayna Jack lifts lid on her biggest fear