Australian broadcasting icon Mike Tomalaris has opened up on his shock exit after 34 years of working at SBS.
Cycling fans were stunned last month when it was announced the face of SBS’ Tour de France coverage was leaving the station.
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SBS provided a brief statement at the time, saying: “Mike Tomalaris is moving on from SBS after more than 30 years with the network. We wish him well for his next chapter.”
Tomalaris took to Twitter to farewell the company.
“Not the way I planned to end a 34 year career with a broadcaster I love, cherish + believe in. SBS runs through my veins,” he tweeted. “It happened so suddenly!
“I’m sad to leave but do so with pride. Viewers have learned to love the bicycle; the thrills it provides + unique places it takes us.”
“It made me think of the people that I’ve lost through suicide,” he said. “And even though I never considered doing any damage to myself, it did cross my mind for the very first time.
“It took me about 14 days to get over the shock and the shock turned to anger and my mental health was very unstable for the first time in my life.”
According to the Herald, Tomalaris took up an offer of counselling from SBS and thanked fans who had shown him “overwhelming” support.
Tomalaris also said that he was forced to resign due to a “minor” code of conduct breach, and suggested his age may have played a role in his sacking.
In a statement shared with news.com.au, an SBS spokesperson denied the claims, saying: “Mr Tomalaris was a long-standing member of our news and sport teams, and SBS was committed to his ongoing role and had no plans to change our presenting line-up.
“Any suggestion otherwise is untrue and at odds with our growing commitment and investment in major cycling events, and his expanded role as a sports presenter on SBS News. We wish him well as he moves on from the network.”
Tomalaris started with SBS in 1987 as a sports reporter before joining full-time in 1992 and leading the network’s Tour de France coverage ever since.
His departure took plenty of people by surprise. Last month news anchor Anton Enus tweeted: “The sudden departure this week of @miketomalaris has left his colleagues and many friends at @SBSNews bereft. You’d have to search long and hard to find a nicer fella in broadcasting.”
The ABC’s Andy Park added Tomalaris was “a true legend and gentleman”.
“I want to do that through my profile because mental health is a major problem that I believe in,” he said after leaving SBS.