Trans footy star reveals his very emotional tie to motor sport legend Peter Brock's widow Bev: 'She gave me unconditional love'

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Aussie rugby sevens star and Olympic gold medallist Ellia Green has revealed he's struggling with the loss of 'Aunty Bev' Brock and the 'unconditional love' she provided at some of the most difficult points in his life.

Bev Brock, the longtime partner of Peter Brock, died at the age of 77 at her Melbourne home last month, two years after she was diagnosed with stage four cancer.

Green, who underwent gender transition surgery in 2022, said Brock was so supportive she was practically family.

'She was like a second mum to me,' Green told News Corp.

Ellia Green is pictured right with partner Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts and daughter Waitui

Green says he has been devastated by the loss of family friend Bev Brock (pictured) after she played a huge role in his life

'I called her all the time. Maybe not every day, but a lot. Just to tell her everything; if I applied for a new job, the news of when my baby was born … anything that was good that was happening in my life.

'But then also the worst news. I had some mental health struggles, especially since losing my mum, and every time I just didn't know what to do anymore I just always called her and she told me everything I didn't want to hear.

'Her advice was always brutal, which I liked because I needed it. I liked her honesty, I didn't like it at times, but I needed it.

'She just always put my mind back in place.'

Green, who has kept the same name, has stated that undertaking the transition to being a man is the best decision he's ever made - but it wasn't easy, and Brock was always there to help.

'She just showed unconditional love,' said Green.

'I think her first response to me was, 'I just want you to be happy and I see you for you – you are Ellia, you are my Ellia'.

'The way that it did not matter to her one little bit … she has never changed the way that she loves me, no matter who I am or what I do.

Green scores a try during the Women's Rugby Sevens World Cup final in 2018. He's since retired after an illustrious career that included winning Olympic gold in 2016

Green says Brock was like a mother to him and was always there for advice

'It is kind of rare to have people in your life like that who only see that.

'No other fluff, it's real and that is what I see as true love.'

Green - whose father was a motor sport journalist and good friend of Peter Brock's - also endured dark periods when his sporting career was ending.

It led to a downward spiral of sorts with Green, like many athletes, linking disappointments in the sporting world to some sort of blight on his character - a devastating reality that has led to serious mental health issues for many athletes.

'I had so many mental health struggles, especially since losing my mum,' Green said.

'The mental health challenges of not getting picked for Tokyo, how everything that happened at that time was just so dark in terms of how my career ended and also the impact of social media after transitioning.

'Mostly positive but then there were also a lot of horrible things.

'Retiring after Tokyo really was a massive hit to my soul … it was a massive change, not just in my career, but everything.

'I think the best advice that she ever said to me – it is very hard because she said so many things – she basically said you can choose how much you let things get to you.

'You can choose to … absorb all of the outside bullshit or you can carry on with your life and you can shine like you do and that's you.

'She said to me, "If you did yourself in, do you really think that your mum would want to see you?" She said, "Absolutely not because she would be so p**sed off at you".'

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