Aussie cyclist's fall from grace

Less than two years ago, Australian Olympic cyclist Mark Jamieson seemingly had it all.

He had won world championships at junior and senior level, he travelled the globe racing in the green and gold, and he had come through Australia's disappointing Beijing Games as cycling's best performer.

A career as a professional cyclist in Europe surely beckoned for the then 24-year-old, with the possibility of one day riding in the Tour de France.

Sponsorship deals were in place, presenting the Tasmanian with the chance to earn serious money in a sport that had been his life since the age of 10.

But now all of that is gone and his chances of representing his country again are almost zero.
  
The 26-year-old has been given a suspended two-and-a-half year jail sentence for child sex offences.

He has been given a non-parole period of 12 months and placed on a three-year good behaviour bond.

Jamieson had earlier pleaded guilty to four counts of unlawful sexual intercourse and one count of indecent assault in Adelaide between November 2008 and January 2009.

Jamieson's case revolved around his infatuation and sexual relationship in Adelaide with a 15-year-old girl and a "moment of stupidity'' when he tried to kiss another girl, also 15.
  
The unlawful sexual intercourse offences related to the 15-year-old who was his girlfriend at the time, while the indecent assault charge related to the second girl.

The allegations against Jamieson first emerged in February 2009 after he was picked to ride in the world championships.

He stepped down, citing personal reasons and later surrendered his professional licence.

The previous year, he had been one of Australia's better cyclists at the Beijing Games, while in 2006 he was also part of Australia's team pursuit line-up that won the world championship.

This followed on from his junior world title in the individual pursuit in 2002.

Jamieson had been a cycling star since an early age, winning his first Australian title when he was 14.

But during the court proceedings, he revealed his seemingly perfect world was far from that.

He told how he had battled depression and other issues while away from home and how he was at one stage placed on medication.

He was subsequently diagnosed with serious psychological problems, including bipolar disorder and severe anxiety, and harboured suicidal thoughts over a long period of time.

His lawyer said Jamieson had essentially missed out on a normal adolescence, living a life where he was barely required to be responsible for his actions.

The former world champion says all that has changed.

Fighting back tears, he read an emotional statement to the court in May, telling his victims how sorry he was for the pain he had caused.

He said the court proceedings had caused him to grow up and there was no chance of him offending again.

"Every day, I have felt remorse,'' he said.

Ironically, one of the victims in the case now says that if she had known the full consequences of revealing her relationship with Jamieson, she would have kept it secret.

Nor did she want him to go to jail, believing he never intended to hurt her.

Her mother also asked the court not to send Jamieson to prison.

She said she regretted that he had lost his cycling career, but had felt betrayed by him and disappointed in his conduct as an Olympian.

The woman said she had always believed cycling to be a great sport, but now knew it could have a "dark side''.
  
In passing sentence, Judge Mark Griffin said he took those views into account.

He said Jamieson had led an unusual life, with his dedication to a singular sporting activity at a time when most young men were maturing and developing emotionally.

He referred to Jamieson's psychological issues and said his offending had almost certainly ended his international career, taking with it his professional livelihood.

"You have already lost much of what you had,'' the judge said.

Cycling Australia said any application by Jamieson to return to racing would be considered by the organisation's disciplinary committee.

A spokeswoman said the rider still had a case to answer for breaching Cycling Australia's by-laws.

However, it is unlikely that Australia's Olympic and Commonwealth games officials would ever endorse his participation again.

There could also be visa issues if Jamieson tries to travel to top cycling countries across Europe or to race in the United States.

On another level, Judge Griffin said it was almost certain Jamieson would not re-offend and that his rehabilitation, if not complete, was well under way.

The judge had previously acknowledged the impact of the case on Jamieson's life.

"The fall from grace for an elite athlete results in a very harsh landing,'' he said.

- AAP