Swimmer reveals battle with depression

● Olympic medallist Jamieson ‘was living on anti-depressants and sleeping pills’

2013 there were a few weeks where I didn’t even go to training.

“I just kind of sat down and started asking questions, like ‘What am I doing here? All I have to show for 20 years of work is a medal. What does that mean?’.

“Over time I guess it got a bit deeper than that – ‘Whose lives am I enriching by doing what I’m doing? What am I offering here as a person? Who’s benefiting from me being here?’.

“When it got to that level I knew I needed to get help. From that point it just unravelled a bit.

“There were weeks I couldn’t go out. I was living on a diet of anti-depressants and sleeping pills, and just even more destructive behaviour. Not speaking to anyone, completely closed off.

“I started taking the sleeping pills because I kept having these recurring dreams that I was walking off a building. It was then I knew it was getting quite serious.

“Those horrible dreams and thinking I didn’t want to be here any more full stop, that was the final straw. Something inside clicked and said this has gone far too far. It is time to put a stop to this.”

In April, Jamieson told BBC Sport: “My body just can’t take the intensity any more.”

In its announcement, Scottish Swimming’s performance director Ally Whike said: “Michael has been an inspiration to all within sport – his dedication, professionalism and resilience over the years produced some outstanding performances throughout his senior swimming career.

“As an Olympic medallist in 2012, Michael elevated the sport in Scotland to a new level; he is an outstanding role model for any youngster making their way within the sport.”

0 Michael Jamieson in action at the 2014 Commonwealth Games