MEAGEN NAY STATEMENT
July 27: Meagen Nay has today expressed her gratitude to the Telstra Dolphins Australian Swimming team for their amazing support following the tragic death of her brother Amos.
Twenty-year-old Nay will leave Rome today to fly home to Queensland with her mother Karin, step-father Peter Milburn, and sister Jessica.
Meagen spent her final morning at the 13th FINA World Championships at the Foro Italico, sitting in the grandstand, supporting her team mates after swimming in yesterday morning's heats of the 400m freestyle relay.
"The Australian Swimming team is like having a second family - everyone has been so good and so supportive - I can't thank them enough," said Nay today, as she said he farewells to her team mates.
"As I walked through the back corridor of the pool after my swim yesterday the boys in the 400m relay team Andrew Lauterstein, Matt Abood, Matt Targett and Tommaso D'Orsogna all gave me high fives as I walked past - it was nice."
"I love this team, I love swimming for Australia and to sit and watch the girls swim so well in that relay final last night was awesome."
"I was just pleased to be part of that bronze medal performance - to swim for your country in a relay is very special."
"It's hard to explain but when something like this happens it certainly puts your life very much in perspective.
"I have worked so hard for these World Championships but at this time I have to be with my family - we are a very close-knit unit and together we will get through this.
"In saying that, it's also tough leaving my team mates but I know they will all understand.
"I love swimming and it remains my goal to swim at the Olympic Games in London in 2012."
Meagen has asked the media to respect her and her family's privacy at this time and will be making no further comment.