In 2004 Chantelle Newbery stood on a podium in Athens as Australia's first female Olympic diving champion.
Twelve years later she has been in the dock of Brisbane's Supreme Court.
The turn of events came after the mother of two was remanded in custody on one count of unlawful use of a vehicle.
Her bail bid on Friday was unopposed and granted on conditions including she abide by a curfew and report regularly to police.
As he concluded the hearing, Justice James Douglas remarked: "It's tragic."
Crown documents allege Newbery was seen driving a Toyota Corolla reported stolen that was also found to be displaying stolen number plates.
The alleged offending took place over a period of about two weeks in April, the documents state.
The three-time Olympian, who became Australia's first diving gold medallist in 80 years with her Athens 10m platform win, had previously failed to appear on three occasions, the court heard.
In documents filed before the bail hearing, Newbery said she started using speed while grieving her mother's death in September 2012 and fell further into drug use following a marriage split from fellow Olympic diver Robert Newbery.
"I want to change the direction my life is going," she states in the document.
"I want to integrate back into the Olympic community (and) I want this chapter of my life to be over."
While she technically represented herself, Sisters Inside chief executive Debbie Kilroy appeared in court and later echoed Justice Douglas' comments to reporters outside.
"What we have is a very tragic situation here," she said.
"She shouldn't have been in prison ... in the first instance."
Newbery won gold and bronze at the 2004 Olympics, competed at four World Championships and two Commonwealth Games, bagging two gold and three silver medals.
