Libby Trickett says going grey at 40 left her 'shocked' but 'super happy'

Libby Trickett, the four-time Olympic gold medallist, said choosing to stop colouring her hair and embrace grey at age 40 has left her both “shocked” and “deeply uncomfortable” at times, but ultimately “super happy.” Trickett made the remarks in a candid post to her Instagram followers published Sunday and discussed the personal and societal dimensions of the decision.

In the post, Trickett said the change felt surprising in moments because she questioned whether she was “being ‘aged’ by having grey hair at 40,” before adding that the reaction is inconsistent with the simple fact of getting older. "It also feels deeply uncomfortable at times because as a society we are all so actively fighting nature to look as young as possible for as long as possible," she wrote.

Trickett said the decision was about more than appearance. She wrote that she has “tried Botox twice” but concluded it was not for her and that she did not “want to fight” her body. "I want to work with it to make it as good as it can possibly be at each stage of life. I'm getting older and what a wonderful privilege that is," she added.

The former world-record holder and dominant sprint freestyler for Australia retired from top-level competition years ago but remains a high-profile figure in the national sporting conversation. Her Instagram post drew supportive replies from followers, with users praising her openness and calling the decision brave.

Trickett also reflected on family life in interviews published alongside the disclosure. She said pregnancy has been more physically demanding for her than Olympic training, citing complications including high blood pressure during pregnancies and multiple caesarean sections. Trickett said she has had two vaginal births and three caesareans, one of which was an emergency, and described the combination of pregnancy, childbirth and sleep deprivation as “incredibly brutal.”

She told the Daily Mail she expects her fifth child, Archie, will be her last. Commenting on public reactions to her large family, Trickett said people often respond with surprise and a mix of curiosity and admiration. "I either get that 'I wish we had more', or 'I don't know what you're thinking', or 'Don't you have a hobby?' or 'Do you have a television at home?' Those kinds of comments, but we just love it,'" she said.

Trickett's statements on ageing and appearance come amid broader conversations in sport and society about body image, ageing and the pressures public figures face to maintain a youthful aesthetic. By framing her choice as a personal preference rather than a commentary on others, she emphasized the importance of self-acceptance and practical support for parents dealing with the physical and emotional demands of pregnancy and early parenthood.

Her post was published Sept. 8, 2025, and has since been widely shared in Australian media. Supporters applauded the frankness of her message, while Trickett reiterated that her decision to go grey was rooted in wanting to work with — rather than against — the natural progression of her body and life.