Personal Space: At home with fitness guru and former rugby league player Kris Smith

He’s a Myer and Nissan ambassador, owns Fitstop gym in South Yarra and calls the bayside Melbourne suburb of Black Rock home. Kris Smith, a former rugby league player who moved to Australia 11 years as the then-boyfriend of Dannii Minogue, is back in nesting mode with his partner Sarah Boulazeris and their two children Mila, 18 months, and Frankie, six months.

The couple moved into their new modern two-storey home just before lockdown in March and find themselves there once again while raising their young daughters.

The fitness duo (Boulazeris runs her own personal training business Bumpfit – a pre-natal and postpartum program to get back in shape) wanted to set up their own gym at home in the garage to help keep them sane during lockdown; it’s no doubt being put to good use once again.

“There’s a lot going on at our house with the two young kids so it’s also important we have defined areas to workout, relax and then do family things together,” says Smith. “I also try not to be too hard on myself, it’s doing what you can when you can.”

In the past, Smith would have been gearing for race days and plotting spring racing carnival obligations with Myer, but admits it’s all up in the air right now.

“The intentions are there to get the racing happening and for it to go ahead. We have to wait and see,” he says.

“The Melbourne Cup survived two world wars; but it’s very trying times. I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he adds.

For now, it’s nappies, dumbbells and time to zone out in front of the television for the new COVID-19-normal way of life.

“I have enjoyed being home with Sarah and the girls,” says Smith.

“I won’t lie, it’s been very good for me to be with my family. I am not a negative person and tend to roll with the situation. But I’m ever aware that there’s always someone doing it much tougher than you; I’m mindful that for some, their businesses may not re-open or this may make it hard to come back. You always have to look at the bigger picture.”

A few of Kris’ favourite things

Adult-only room

Sarah and I decided it was important we had a dedicated adult-only room in the home. She was obsessed with a white couch that we saw; and I thought it would be impossible to keep clean with two kids. We also saw a marble dining table but deemed it dangerous for the little ones. So we decided to create our own hideaway from the children where these items could exist. We literally refuse to allow the children in there. A Moroccan rug is on its way to complete the room too.

 The gym

We always wanted a home gym and managed to fully fit it out during lockdown version 1.0 thanks to Sarah’s connections. There’s everything we need in there. Frankie is only six months old, we just put her in the pram and take her into the gym and she is happy to watch us. Mila is 18 months now and into everything – so the gym is a no-no.

Watches

My all-time favourite watch is my solid gold Rolex. It cost me $54,000. I have always been a watch fanatic, even way back when I was young and playing rugby league. My goal in life was to buy myself my first Rolex, which I did when I turned 30. Dad saw it and loved it and I ended up giving it to him for Christmas. Back then it cost me $15,000. Watches are timeless and elegant. I love wearing them.

 Nissan N Trek Warrior

If you had asked me would I ever have driven a ute when I was living in the UK, I would have said no way. When I first arrived in Australia I would see guys driving them and thought why are they doing that? I was always one of those people who said I never would and now I love it.  I can go off-road and would never have been able to do that now. It’s been great for moving houses a couple of times too – it fits everything from prams to golf clubs.

Mila’s foot and hand print artwork

Sarah had this made for me for my birthday – it’s hand and foot prints that she did of Mila for some wrapping paper, She since had the prints framed. It’s full of different colours and a beautiful reminder of how quickly the kids grow up. This is precious to me.

Golf clubs

Golf is a passion of mine and something I really enjoy. Inside the golf bag I keep a flag my friend Jarrod Lyle signed for me before he passed away. Jarrod was a professional golfer and battled against Leukaemia and lost that battle after initially beating it twice. During one of his pro tournaments he got a hole in one on the 16th hole at the waste management Phoenix Open in 2011. I take it to every golf course so he’s always there with me.

Dog tags

The dog tags are a gift for the birth of my son Ethan. I supplied his hand and foot print as well as finger prints and they were engraved onto the silver tags and on a chain which I’ve never taken off in 10 years.