Melbourne, Jan 23 : Aussie swimming champ Stephanie Rice has revealed that she was bullied during her teenage years in school.

Rice, 20, a three times gold medal winner at the Beijing Olympics last year, said that she was a victim of some nasty schoolyard pranks and hurtful teasing.

"I was bullied and picked on as a kid," the Daily Telegraph quoted her as telling the Australian Women''s Weekly.

"It started when I was about 10. I guess I was an easy target, as I had no self-confidence.

"I went through a stage where I didn''t have a lot of friends -- just one or two -- and the popular girls used to call me names, tease me and do nasty things, such as take things out of my lunchbox and hide my school bag so I couldn''t find it.

"I would go home and cry. It was really upsetting and I felt helpless.

"It wasn''t easy for my parents, either, as I felt it was something I needed to deal with on my own," she added. (ANI)