Olympic gold medallist Libby Trickett has revealed her entire family's decade-long struggle with depression, and claimed that it was competitive swimming from a young age that saved her from a downward spiral.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the three-time gold medal winner's decision to return from retirement was to help lift her away from her dark moods.

She, however, said that she had never formally been diagnosed with the illness.

She revealed that she and her three siblings were hit hard by the divorce of her parents 15 years ago, when she was 10, which led to a genetic disposition towards the illness, with her brother, two older sisters and mother all suffering from depression at various stages.

"There have certainly been moments for me when I was down for a couple of weeks, but I have no doubt in my mind that part of the reason that I personally did not suffer depression after my parents' divorce was because I had swimming," Trickett claimed.

Trickett announced her retirement in December, saying she needed "space" and that she had no more swim goals left to fulfill. However, on Saturday, she made the decision to return to the pool because she missed the sense of happiness, peace and camaraderie that it brought.

"I would never say that I was depressed but, certainly, you feel a little bit lost, you feel a little bit flat. I have only just started this journey to swim again but already I feel lighter," she added. (ANI)