Treading Water: My Life In And Out Of The Pool

Description

In the water, Tracey Wickham was a marvel. Out of it, she was a mess. As a teenager in the 1970s, she rose to become the brightest star of Australian swimming, set numerous world records, won four Commonwealth gold medals and mixed with celebrities and the sporting elite. But, on the cusp of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Tracey retired at the age of nineteen. From that time on, Lady Luck didn't smile on Tracey Wickham. Her marriage ended in divorce and her new partner bashed her so savagely she was hospitalised. Standing in line at Centrelink, Tracey thought she had hit rock bottom. Worse was to come. Her beautiful sixteen-year-old daughter, Hannah, was found to have terminal cancer and passed away on her wedding day. Tracey spiralled out of control. Broke and alone, she struggled with depression and prescription drug addiction. But our world champion would never give up without a fight and, with humour and determination, this little Aussie battler is winning the toughest race of all: life. Treading Water reveals the lows and soaring highs of a much-loved Australian sports star, candidly and fearlessly.

Peter Meares has been one of Queensland's leading sports commentators for the past 35 years. Now freelance, Peter is calling sport on Pay Television around the world, running a sports production company, Mearesport, and is in demand on the speaking circuit. He hosts his own TV programme "Superstars and Legends" on Fox Sports and has written two books: "Legends of Australian Sport - The Inside Story" (UQP 2003) and "Wallaby Legends" (Lothian Books, 2005). He has known Tracey since he called her races for the ABC back in the 80s. Tracey Wickham and Peter Meares are both based in Brisbane.