“Felt So Broken and Defeated”: Olympic Champion That Was Escorted Out of Reality Show Shares Disappointing Tale of Mishap

Injuries are part and parcel of professional sport. No sport is exempt from that familiar scourge. For instance, Emma McKeon, the Australian swimmer, nearly had her Olympic Games derailed by a muscle injury suffered before the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Along similar lines, another swimming prodigy, who also fell prey to injuries is none other than Australian swimmer Stephanie Rice, who once reportedly dated the most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps, in 2008.

Stephanie Rice built her identity around being a swimmer. As a result, she struggled to come to terms with her retirement, which she revealed via an emotional Instagram post. Her retirement came rather early in 2014 at age 25. A shoulder injury disrupted her preparations for the 2012 London Olympics. Her shoulder would haunt her once more in her latest venture.

Just as frustrating for Stephanie Rice as before the 2012 London Olympics

Now 35, Stephanie Rice was one of the celebrity contestants in the reality TV show SAS Australia. The participants undergo a training program similar to that enjoyed by the Special Air Service.

Ant Middleton, a former UK Special Forces soldier, acted as chief instructor. A week ago, he asked Rice to leave the show, primarily for her own safety. Regardless, she felt as she did during the prep work for the London Olympics.

In a post on Instagram, she shared a bunch of pictures of her right arm in a sling, along with some of her feelings. She wrote, “I felt so broken and defeated, but more of a spiritual defeat, a loss of hope and faith in my path forward and ability to see the light amongst all that darkness.”

A combat challenge had left Rice with a dislocated shoulder. The following Monday, she defied Middleton’s instructions and attempted to carry her fellow competitor, diver Matthew Mitcham, as part of a course. Middleton put a stop to that plan.

Rice had been told to take it easy, incidentally. With the desire to protect her, Middleton said the next day she was to be taken off the show. He commended her spirit, but emphasized she could seriously injure herself if she continued. According to 7News Australia, Middleton did not wish an injury upon Rice that could require surgical intervention.

Ant Middleton commends her spirit and leaves her a symbolic keepsake

Even so, the three-time gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics was inconsolable. She expressed her frustrations, recalling the injury before the 2012 London Olympics. In a first on the show, Middleton let her keep the armband with her number, 11, on it. Usually, after a contestant is eliminated, they have to relinquish the same. Middleton once again congratulated Rice for her effort.

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The dislocated shoulder was far from the only injury Rice sustained that day. She revealed she also tore her finger abseiling down a tower earlier. As she put it, it was not to be her day.

Stephanie Rice is also an International Swimming Hall of Fame inductee. She added she was proud of herself for trying to push on. Rice admitted it was difficult to keep moving when everything nearby appeared to fall apart at the seams. She expressed solidarity with all who felt the same way. It remains to be seen how long this recovery process takes and what Rice’s next venture will be.

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