Olympic-winning rower Simon Burgess pleads guilty to hitting woman in Huon Valley episode

Three-time Olympian rower Simon Burgess has pleaded guilty to violence against a woman during an episode in the Huon Valley last December. What will happen next>

A 2005 photograph of Simon Burgess, who has pleaded guilty to domestic violence charges.

Three-time Olympian rower Simon Burgess has pleaded guilty to violence against a woman, after previously indicating he would fight the charge.

The 56-year-old appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Thursday following the incident at Franklin, in the Huon Valley, on December 2 last year.

He previously pleaded guilty to three counts of breaching a family violence order and one count of injuring property, but was due to face a contested hearing on Thursday for the outstanding charge of common assault.

However, he changed his plea to guilty for that charge also, meaning the matter will now move straight into facts and sentence.

According to court documents, Burgess slapped the woman to the head “numerous times” and punched a hole in the plaster wall of her bedroom.

The documents also reveal that the breaches of the family violence order – a type of restraining order – occurred when through that common assault, Burgess breached a condition that he not directly or indirectly threaten, abuse or assault the woman

He also breached a condition to not enter the property in which she was living, and a third condition not damage the property or any of its furniture or household effects, which he broke by punching a hole in the wall.

Simon Burgess with Anthony Edwards, Darren Balforth and Robert Richards competing at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Police prosecutor Andrew Tye told the court the woman might wish to provide a victim impact statement at the next court date.

Magistrates Andrew McKee continued Burgess’ bail, and remanded him to reappear in court on August 13.

Burgess is one of Tasmania’s most successful rowers.

He was selected to represent Australia at world rowing at Lake Barrington in 1990, winning a bronze medal in the quad scull, before going on to win two gold medals at the meet in 1991 and 1997.

He 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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