A former promising cyclist has been given a suspended jail sentence for stabbing an official who sexually abused her as a teenager.

Former Cycling Australia official Warwick Phillips was given a suspended sentence in 2009 for numerous child sex offences.

The South Australian Supreme Court heard his victim, who is now 20, went to Phillips's house at Kilburn in northern Adelaide in September last year and stabbed him on the doorstep when he refused to come outside to talk to her.

The young woman pleaded guilty to intentionally causing serious harm to Phillips and assaulting his wife, Christine.

The court was told the woman was a committed and talented cyclist at 16 and met Phillips in a group cycling training session in 2008.

The pair developed a sexual relationship which lasted about five months until the girl told her mother and police were called in.

Justice Anne Vanstone said there was a direct connection between the offences committed against the woman and the offences she committed.

But Justice Vanstone said people had a right to feel safe in their own homes.

"You found the suspension [of Mr Phillips's sentence] too much to bear and attempted suicide by overdose," she said.

"It is clear that the effect of Mr Phillips's offences against you have been catastrophic."

Despite the fact the woman carried the knife with her, Justice Vanstone said she could not find that the attack was premeditated.

"On the front doorstep you tried to get Mr Phillips to come outside. You had the knife behind your back. You told him you wanted to talk about your relationship," she said.

Lunged with knife

Justice Vanstone said when Mr Phillips refused to move outside, the woman lunged at him and stabbed him in the torso, then waved the knife at Christine Phillips.

Justice Vanstone said the offence was extremely serious because of the potentially lethal consequences.

She said but for rapid medical intervention, Mr Phillips would have died.

"Two of Mr Phillips's children witnessed these events," she said.

"In addition, the offending occurred on the threshold of the victims' home where they are entitled to feel safe and secure.

"The entire situation for both families has been disastrous."

Justice Vanstone jailed the woman for a minimum of 18 months but suspended the sentence and imposed a $500 three-year bond.

The woman is also prevented from making contact with Phillips and his family.

Before she left the court the young woman told the judge she had learnt her lesson.

"I intend to get on with my life and I'll never commit a crime again," she said.

"I've been punished very hard and I just want to get on with my life."

Mr Phillips and his supporters were present in court but did not comment on the outcome as they left the building.