FALLEN Gold Coast Olympic kayaking star Nathan Baggaley has made “poor choices” in his life — choices that stripped away his sporting legacy, and his freedom.
Yesterday he set to work making amends, released from Grafton Correctional Centre after serving four years behind bars for manufacturing and dealing ecstasy.
Baggaley, a triple K1 500m world champion and a double silver medallist at the Athens Olympics in 2004, stepped outside the jail front gate into the arms of his partner Emeere Roberts, and his father Noel.
“I admit my mistakes. I have made some poor choices and paid the price,” Baggaley said.
“It’s been tough, it’s a challenge, but hey, I made a mistake.
“It was a tough lesson.”
Asked what he was planning next in his life, Baggaley listed a few simple requests.
“Just get home, spend time with family and reassess,” he said.
The former kayaker was convicted of charges relating to the manufacture and supply of a commercial quantity of ecstasy tablets in 2009.
He was released from prison about 8.30am yesterday after the NSW Parole Authority granted Baggaley freedom following the end of his non-parole period.
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