Olympic rower Simon Burgess pleads guilty to family violence order breaches

Three-time Olympian rower Simon Burgess has pleaded guilty to a trio of family violence offences. Latest from court.

Simon Burgess after completing Hobart’s Point to Pinnacle race in 2006.

Three-time Olympian rower Simon Burgess has pleaded guilty to a trio of family violence offences.

Mr Burgess, 56, appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching a family violence order and one count of injuring property.

However, he pleaded not guilty to a singular count of common assault.

The charges relate to an alleged incident at Franklin, in the Huon Valley, during early December.

Mr Burgess was initially remanded in custody by Magistrate Andrew McKee, but was soon after granted bail.

He will return to court on March 20.

Mr Burgess is one of Tasmania’s most successful rowers, having first been selected to represent Australia at the world championships at Lake Barrington in 1990.

He won a bronze medal in the quad scull, before going on to win two gold medals at the meet in 1991 and 1997.

Mr Burgess won two Olympic silver medals from three appearances – at Atlanta in 1996, Sydney in 2000, and Athens in 2004.

He was also named the Tasmanian Institute of Sport’s Athlete of the Year three times, in 1997, 1999 and 2000.

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