Australian Olympic swimming icon Liesel Jones has candidly shared the details of her personal health transformation, revealing she turned to medical assistance to lose a significant 25 kilograms. The nine-time Olympic medallist made the heartfelt disclosure during a recent appearance on Channel Seven's Sunrise program.
The Difficult Decision for an Authentic Life
Jones, who has cultivated a large online following through her commitment to honesty, described the choice to seek medical help as a profoundly challenging one. "It was a very hard, difficult decision to make in the first point because I did feel like it was cheating," Jones admitted. She ultimately enrolled in the women's specialist program, Juniper, which she credits as being "fantastic" for her.
The champion athlete explained that despite a lifetime of rigorous training and expert nutritional knowledge, her body changed after she turned 40. "I've been in the gym my entire life, I've eaten really well, but once I turned 40 something changed and I was really struggling," she said. Jones recounted intense gym sessions where she would try to burn 500 calories, yet found herself continually gaining weight.
Underlying Health Challenges and a Lifetime of Scrutiny
Jones's struggle was compounded by several specific medical conditions that made traditional weight loss methods ineffective. She revealed she manages polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), subclinical hypothyroidism, and high liver enzymes. "PCOS in particular makes it very difficult to lose weight so, it didn't really matter what I did, I just couldn't get around it," Jones stated.
The swimmer's relationship with her body has been shaped by decades in the public eye, beginning when she made the Australian Olympic team at just 14 years old for the Sydney 2000 Games. "We are in the tiniest bathers... You could see absolutely everything," she recalled, noting the intense consciousness about her weight and appearance throughout her storied career.
Breaking Down Stigma and Embracing Assistance
Now, Liesel Jones is on a mission to dismantle the stigma surrounding medically-assisted weight loss, forcefully rejecting the idea that it represents a "shortcut." "There's so much stigma and there still is," she said, addressing common judgments. "No, no, no, no. It's not a shortcut. This is just giving you that little bit of assistance to get into that good routine and those good habits."
She passionately advocates for a more understanding perspective, asserting, "It's OK if you need medication to be able to assist you to do that. There's no judgement around it." True to her trademark authenticity, Jones emphasised the importance of being open about her journey with her fans and social media community, framing her experience as ultimately life-changing.
