‘We witnessed the fights and bruises’: Olympian Lisa Curry reveals details from her abusive childhood – and how she watched her father hit her mother
- Lisa Curry has revealed shocking details from her abusive childhood
- In a preview for an SBS program, the 58-year-old recalled witnessing fights
- The former Olympian saw her late father Roy hit her mother Pat ‘for years’
- Lisa said she has been able to find closure and move on from her troubled past
Former Olympic swimmer Lisa Curry has revealed details from her abusive childhood.
In a preview for an upcoming episode of SBS program Who Do You Think You Are?, obtained by the Sunshine Coast Daily on Friday, the 58-year-old said she witnessed her late father Roy hit her mother Pat.
Lisa explained how she and her siblings, Scott, 61, and Melanie, 54, witnessed the ‘fights’ and ‘bruises’ for years.
‘We witnessed the fights and bruises’: Olympian Lisa Curry, 58, (pictured) has revealed details from her abusive childhood, in a preview for SBS program Who Do You Think You Are? Pictured at a press conference in April, 2008
‘There was quite a few years where we had pretty horrific domestic violence in our household,’ Lisa revealed in the episode, to be aired on June 9.
‘As children we would witness the fights and Dad hitting Mum, and the bruises. Mum always said, “I’ve got three kids and a grand piano… where am I going to go?’ She couldn’t leave,’ she continued.
Lisa’s mother Pat did eventually leave the relationship, divorcing Roy when Lisa was 15-years-old.
The former ironwoman said that despite having a ‘distant’ relationship with her father in the years prior to his death, aged 83 in 2015, she has been able to find closure.
Cycle of abuse: The former ironwoman detailed how she witnessed her late father Roy (pictured centre) hit her mother Pat ‘for years’. Also pictured is Lisa (centre), her sister Melanie and brother Scott
‘I do see my mum suffer still. She is 85 and still sees a psychologist. I know it (domestic violence) affects people for a long, long time.’
Lisa has used her experience of abuse to help others, supporting not-for-profit charity Hairdressers with Hearts.
The charity aims to see hairdressers and barbers provide appropriate resources to link clients in domestic violence situations with professional support services.
Lisa said of her mother Pat (pictured): ‘I do see my mum suffer still. She is 85 and still sees a psychologist. I know it (domestic violence) affects people for a long, long time’
Closure: Lisa (also pictured in April, 2008) told Who Do You Think You Are? that she has been able to find closure and move on from her troubled childhood
Who Do You Think You Are? has also profiled Bert Newton, Cameron Daddo, Denise Scott, Julie Bishop and Lisa Wilkinson.
The program begins Tuesday at 7.30pm on SBS, with Lisa Curry’s episode on June 9.
For domestic violence support, please call the national hotline 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
Worthy cause: Lisa has used her experience of abuse to help others, supporting not-for-profit charity Hairdressers with Hearts. Her episode of Who Do You Think You Are? airs June 9 at 7.30pm on SBS