Lisa Curry’s emotional plea 5 years after Jaimi's tragic death

Aussie swimming legend Lisa Curry has made a heartfelt appeal in memory of her late daughter, Jaimi Kenny, who tragically passed away in 2020 at the age of 33 following a prolonged and painful battle with alcoholism and an eating disorder.

Appearing on Nine News, the 63-year-old former Olympian opened up about her devastating loss and called on Australians to participate in a groundbreaking new genetic study that aims to detect eating disorders from birth.

“She just sort of took a breath and then her hands went cold – that was it,” Lisa recalled, her voice heavy with emotion.

Jaimi’s struggle with anorexia, bulimia and binge eating left her mother with more questions than answers. “She’d say, ‘Where did it come from? Why am I like this?’” Lisa shared, still haunted by her daughter’s anguish.

Now, in the midst of grief, Lisa is channelling her pain into purpose. She is urging Australians to volunteer for a pioneering genetic research project led by Queensland’s QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. The study hopes to enlist 4,000 local participants and 100,000 globally, collecting saliva samples to identify potential genetic markers linked to eating disorders.

Professor Nick Martin, who is leading the study, explained that genetic predisposition plays a significant role in the development of such illnesses – a discovery that could change lives and save them.

Lisa’s renewed call for awareness and action follows her own harrowing health battles. In recent months, she revealed she’s been in “recovery” from the unrelenting grief of losing Jaimi. After more than three years, she finally returned to the gym – a milestone made even more significant by the physical pain of a hip replacement, the result of a fall while husky sledding in Canada last year.

Lisa’s health history also includes myocarditis, a mitral valve prolapse inherited from her mother, and a fractured sternum. "Seventeen years ago, I had 22,000 irregular heartbeats a day,” she wrote. “That was the start of a different life.”

Since the loss of Jaimi, Lisa has committed herself to raising awareness about the silent struggles so many face – especially when it comes to eating disorders. Her message is simple but urgent: more research, more understanding and more compassion are desperately needed.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, support is available. Contact the Butterfly Foundation’s national helpline at 1800 33 4673 or visit thebutterflyfoundation.org.au.

Images: Instagram / Nine News