“Breaking Up Is Not All That Hard To Do” Says Stephanie Rice

Given their Facebook history, I would have thought that a clean break up between Olympic swimmers Stephanie Rice and Eamon Sullivan would have simply involved updating their respective relationship statuses to “Single” or, if still slightly hopeful for a brighter future, “It’s Complicated Until After The Games”. Nevertheless, this bizarrely gripping (it must be gripping someone, somewhere, surely? It’s certainly getting column inches) split is apparently still news and Steph has spoken to the press about how effortless her transition from loved up half of an athletically.gifted couple to single lass-about-Beijing-town has been.

World record holder Stephanie Rice today said the decision for her and Eamon Sullivan to split was not a tough one on the eve of the Olympics. Speaking at the Australian team’s training camp in Kuala Lumpur, Rice said she had been surprised her personal life had been getting so much attention in the media.

“It wasn’t a tough decision. We made the decision because of the Olympics, so getting so much attention is something we are just going to push aside,” Rice said. “The whole reason that we decided to have a bit of a break was because of the Olympics.

“Media talking about it is a little bit draining. But at the same time we both know that we made this decision because of Olympics and being such elite athletes and professionals that we want to do what’s best for us.”

Yes, for a couple who allegedly parted ways in order to stay focused on their upcoming performances in the pool during the Olympics, they’ve spent more time out of the water blabbing about their relationship to eager journalists than I would have perhaps liked.

KEEP TRAINING AND SHUT YOUR PIE HOLES! WE WANT GOLD GOLD GOLD FOR AUSTRALIA!

Actually, I couldn’t care less about the Olympics right now, but I’m sure once the bloody thing starts I’ll become a rabid flag-wearing bogan sports nut. Because the Olympics is a magical time where every couch enthusiast somehow becomes an expert on sports they’ve never participated in (”That hoof totally landed in the water! Call this dressage? BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSHIIIIIIIIIT!”) and that’s why we love it so.