Tributes are flowing for three-time Olympian and Australia's 2014 flagbearer Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin, who died in a spearfishing accident on the Gold Coast | SMHsport
that night in 2014. "We do it for the pure love of the sport. I grew up on top of a ski shop in Mansfield. We don’t do it for everything that might come with it. We don't do it for the money, we don't do it for the chicks."
The 32-year-old was experienced at the caper and had recently posted vision to Instagram of underwater spearfishing trips. Emergency services provided CPR on Palm Beach for up to 45 minutes, but he couldn't be revived.Pullin had become one of Australia's most recognisable winter athletes, given the honour of leading the team in the 2014 opening ceremony following back-to-back boarder-cross world titles in 2011 and 2013.
What he never forgot though was growing up in accommodation above his parents' shop at Mt Buller, learning to ski when he was just three. By eight he was strapped onto his first snowboard and was hooked. 'Chumpy' was a champion bloke as well as being a champion athlete. He had great charisma that allowed him to be a natural leader."This is an incredibly sad day for us all," the Australian Olympic Committee's six-time winter Olympic chef de mission Ian Chesterman said. "Chumpy was a champion bloke as well as a champion athlete. He had great charisma that allowed him to be a natural leader.
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