Matt Shirvington and wife Jessica reveal terrifying encounter with a stalker

Matt Shirvington’s athletic career made him a household name.

But the sprinter-turned-broadcaster, 42, and his wife, Jessica, 41, told The Australian Women’s Weekly on Thursday that fame has its downsides.

Jessica, a young adult novelist, said the couple once received threats against their children, Sienna, 14, Winnie, 12, and Lincoln, three. 

Public life: Matt Shirvington and his wife, Jessica, have revealed the terrifying reason why they won’t publicly share photos of their children. Pictured on April 3, 2018, on the Gold Coast

She recalled a terrifying incident when their daughters were little and she received an anonymous phone call while Matt travelling for work.

She said the man on the phone, who was a stranger to her, ‘was telling me which child he was going to take’.

‘He was putting on a voice, a girl’s voice. I said, “Oh, okay, if you know so much, tell me where we live and then we’ll be scared.”‘

But calling the stalker’s bluff was a mistake because he ‘started describing the jacaranda tree out the front of the house’.

‘It was enough to know that it’s not our choice how exposed they are,’ she added.

Private: Jessica (right), a young adult novelist, said the couple once received threats against their children, Sienna, 14, Winnie, 12, and Lincoln, three

Private: Jessica (right), a young adult novelist, said the couple once received threats against their children, Sienna, 14, Winnie, 12, and Lincoln, three

As a result of this frightening encounter, the Shirvingtons have decided not to share photos of their children, although they are still happy to discuss them.

Matt is perhaps best known for his infamous appearance at the 1998 Commonwealth Games where he wore a revealing Lycra outfit.

He previously said the footage of the race was a ‘curse’, but he also joked that it was the ‘greatest moment in my career’.

Frightened: She recalled a terrifying incident when their daughters were little and she received an anonymous phone call while Matt travelling for work. She said the man on the phone, who was a stranger to her, 'was telling me which child he was going to take'

Frightened: She recalled a terrifying incident when their daughters were little and she received an anonymous phone call while Matt travelling for work. She said the man on the phone, who was a stranger to her, ‘was telling me which child he was going to take’

Remember this! Matt is perhaps best known for his infamous appearance at the 1998 Commonwealth Games where he wore a revealing Lycra outfit

Remember this! Matt is perhaps best known for his infamous appearance at the 1998 Commonwealth Games where he wore a revealing Lycra outfit

‘I have spent a long time trying to forget all of that but I must admit, it does come up from time to time,’ he told The Courier-Mail.

‘Still my best mate’s favourite line when we are out and someone brings it up is, “Just remember, the camera puts on 10 pounds.”‘

Matt finished fourth at the 1998 Games and within three-hundredths of a second off a medal, smashing the Australian 100m record in the process.

Entertainment: He retired from athletics in 2008 and went on to become a Fox Sports NRL commentator, before signing with Channel Seven last year. Matt recently co-hosted Seven's mini-golf show Holey Moley with Rob Riggle (right)

Entertainment: He retired from athletics in 2008 and went on to become a Fox Sports NRL commentator, before signing with Channel Seven last year. Matt recently co-hosted Seven’s mini-golf show Holey Moley with Rob Riggle (right)

He retired from athletics in 2008 and went on to become a Fox Sports NRL commentator, before signing with Channel Seven last year.

Matt recently co-hosted Seven’s mini-golf show Holey Moley with Rob Riggle.

His next project is co-hosting Ultimate Tag with Abbey Gelmi.

Coming soon: His next project is co-hosting Ultimate Tag with Abbey Gelmi (left)

Coming soon: His next project is co-hosting Ultimate Tag with Abbey Gelmi (left)