A croquembouche, chocolate delice and roast chicken baked in a salt-and-hay crust couldn't deter Olympic medalist Eamon Sullivan from taking culinary gold when he out-cooked INXS's Kirk Pengilly and Miss Universe Australia Rachael Finch in a three round challenge to become the first Australian Celebrity MasterChef on Nov. 25.

“I think It was my competitive spirit shining through," says the 24-year-old Perth swimming sensation, who took out the title with a 4-point lead and whose prize includes a $50, 000 donation to The Royal Life Saving Society's Swim, Survive, Stay Alive program.

But, despite impressing the judges with his chocolate delice in the second round — he earned a perfect 10 from both Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris — it wasn't all smooth waters: “During the first taste test challenge, I was really down and out and close to giving up," admits the chips lover, who called on the steely determination he employs in the pool.

"It was really frustrating, I thought I was going to stuff up the rest because I was so angry, so to get over the line and come away as the first Celebrity MasterChef is pretty special.”

Back in the pool training full-time, the studly swimmer, who admits he has still yet to master cooking seafood, says he can't wait to display his trophy proudly once the finishing touches are made on his new Sydney home.

On whether he would swap his togs for an apron? “I wouldn’t say my cooking is as good as my swimming,” he says. “It's still a side passion at the moment. But I definitely have a new appreciation for what chef’s have to go through every day!"

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