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Former Olympian Lisa Curry has made a heartbreaking plea in honour of her daughter Jaimi who died in 2020 at age 33 after a long battle with alcoholism and an eating disorder.
Lisa, 63, is asking for volunteers to join a new genetic study led by Queensland researchers who hope to identify eating disorders at birth.
Appearing on Nine News on Tuesday Lisa recalled her tragic loss.
'She just sort of took a breath and then her hands went cold, that was it,' Lisa said.
Explaining her passion for the fresh plea for answers to such common eating disorders such anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder Lisa remembered Jaimi's own anguish about her condition.
'She'd say, "Where did it come from? Why am I like this?"' Lisa said.
Former Olympian Lisa Curry has made a heartbreaking plea in honour of her daughter Jaimi who died in 2020 at age 33 after a long battle with alcoholism and an eating disorder. Pictured: Appearing on Nine News on Tuesday Lisa recalled her tragic loss
Lisa, 63, is asking for volunteers to join a new genetic study led by Queensland researchers who hope to identify eating disorders at birth. Pictured: Lisa with her late daughter Jaimi
Nine reported that 4000 Australian volunteers are required for the study, while there is a target for 100,000 to take part worldwide.
The study will include the collection of saliva samples in order to identify genetic markers with the research taking place at the DNA facility at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR).
Professor Nick Martin of QIMR explained in the Nine story that genetic disposition plays a large component in eating disorders.
It comes after Lisa revealed she was in 'recovery' following the tragic death of her daughter Jaimi.
In January last year, Lisa said she had finally gotten herself back to the gym after '3 1/2 years of sadness and grief'.
Her recent sessions with a personal trainer were necessitated by her hip replacement surgery last year.
Lisa injured herself in 2023 while husky dog sledding in Yukon, Canada.
She slipped on the ice which caused her to fall and break her hip.
Nine reported that 4000 Australian volunteers are required for the study, while there is a target for 100,000 to take part worldwide
Jaimi, who Lisa shared with ex-husband Grant Kenny, died in September 2020 after a long battle with alcoholism and an eating disorder.
Lisa and former Australian Ironman Grant Kenny wed in 1984, separated in 2009, and welcomed three children together: son Jett, and daughters Morgan and Jaimi.
The athlete recently revealed she has officially given up alcohol after suffering a terrifying health scare while holidaying in Fiji.
She shared a raw and deeply personal update to Instagram last month, posting a photo of herself lying in a hospital bed in Queensland, looking weary.
'Just a little overnight stay in hospital,' Lisa captioned the photo, before taking her followers on a sobering journey through her long battle with serious heart issues - and her decision to give up booze for good.
'Seventeen years ago... I had Myocarditis, 22,000 irregular heartbeats a day, a mitral valve prolapse (hereditary from my mum), a fractured sternum (from a chiropractic appointment),' Lisa began.
'Then a defibrillator, an infection, a month's stay in hospital on heavy antibiotics - and then finally home, living a different life.'
The legendary athlete revealed she had to permanently give up alcohol for her health.
'I decided to give up alcohol early last year. But while in Fiji last October I decided to have a cocktail on our last night. It was super syrupy and sugary and not 10 minutes later I went off with a bang!! Not a nice feeling,' she shared.
Her defibrillator was triggered after her heart rate spiked to a dangerous 270 beats per minute - a terrifying episode that cemented her decision to quit drinking entirely.
Lisa, who also revealed she now experiences atrial fibrillation (AF), urged her followers to always take heart symptoms seriously - even if they seem minor at the time.
