James Magnussen talks about his prescription drug scandal on SAS Australia

Retired swimmer James Magnussen talks about his prescription drug scandal on SAS Australia and reveals he hasn’t cried since the London 2012 Summer Olympics left him ’emotionally scarred’

James Magnussen spoke about his prescription drug scandal following the London Olympics on Monday’s episode of SAS Australia.

After being pulled into interrogation by the show’s DS (directing staff), the 29-year-old former Olympic swimmer revealed he’d learnt to switch off his emotions.

‘I thought my whole life up until now has been a failure. I think the whole experience around London and the fallout has hardened me in a lot of ways and I haven’t cried since,’ he confessed. 

Tell-all: James Magnussen spoke about his prescription drug scandal following the London Olympics on Monday’s episode of SAS Australia

‘That experience has left me a little bit emotionally scarred, and as a result, showing emotion is not something that I’ve ever been very comfortable with.’ 

Following the 2012 Olympics, it emerged that James had enjoyed a night out with his teammates, Eamon Sullivan, Matt Targett, James Roberts, Tommaso D’Orsogna and Cameron McEvoy.   

The group took the sleeping drug Stilnox, during what James had previously described as a bonding session with his fellow swimmers.

Blank canvas: After being pulled into interrogation by the show's DS (directing staff), the 29-year-old former Olympic swimmer revealed he'd learnt to switch off his emotions

Blank canvas: After being pulled into interrogation by the show’s DS (directing staff), the 29-year-old former Olympic swimmer revealed he’d learnt to switch off his emotions

The drug was a banned substance, and James admitted that the scandal is still ‘something I haven’t dealt with completely’.

‘It got pretty dark there for a while where I was copping criticism, not only in the media but when I was out in public as well,’ he explained. 

‘As a 20-year-old kid I didn’t really know how to cope with that, so I made a decision back then that I’m never going to let emotions get the better of me again, and so I don’t really let anyone in emotionally.’  

Scandal: Following the 2012 Olympics, it emerged that James took the sleeping drug Stilnox during a night out with his teammates. Pictured at the 2012 London Olympics

Scandal: Following the 2012 Olympics, it emerged that James took the sleeping drug Stilnox during a night out with his teammates. Pictured at the 2012 London Olympics

James confessed that as he gets older, not being able to feel things is something that concerns him.

‘I’ve had some really big achievements in my life since, and I feel like I just keep flatlining,’ he admitted.

‘You know, I get sad, I get angry, all that kind of stuff, but I’m not getting the high highs as well.’ 

'You know, I get sad, I get angry, all that kind of stuff, but I'm not getting the high highs as well,' he confessed

‘You know, I get sad, I get angry, all that kind of stuff, but I’m not getting the high highs as well,’ he confessed