Olympic medallist charged

A high profile sports star and Olympic medallist has been charged in relation to an incident involving his former partner.

A source close to the couple said the man, who recently married, had been living overseas for the past two years “to avoid being charged”.

The Herald on Sunday understands the woman broke her wrist, was off work for four months and is struggling financially after the man allegedly pushed her down some concrete steps, during an altercation at his rental property in April 2018.

It is understood the man left the country the next day and was charged when he came back to New Zealand last year.

The source said the man was on a border alert which meant police would be notified as soon as he entered the country.

At the time of the altercation, the couple shared joint custody, but since then the children have remained in their mother’s care full time.

The parents allegedly argued over custody arrangements when the man’s former partner arrived to pick up their children.

The sportsman allegedly pushed the woman over, causing her to fall backwards down the steps. She landed on her wrist, breaking it and she had to spend a night in the hospital.

The children were there when their mother fell and were “distraught”, the source said.

Police have confirmed that a man was charged with injures with reckless disregard in November last year.

The Olympic medallist has name suppression and has pleaded not guilty.

He will reappear next month.