?I Felt Like Vomiting at the End?: Shattering World Records at 50, Former Olympic Swimmer Shares Aging Horrors

Age is just a number. For many years now, a multitude of athletes who graced the sporting realm lived by or adhered to this phrase and catapulted to glory by defying age and doing the unthinkable. Along similar lines, Susie O?Neill, who has 8 Olympic medals and countless World Championships medals, recently celebrated her 50th birthday. However, this birthday celebration was followed up with a prestigious accolade. With her latest stint in the swimming pool, O’Neill has left her mark in the tome of swimming.

The recent 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka saw the Australian swimming legend returning to competitive swimming. However, she did not just return to action at 50 years of age, but also dominated her event as she shattered a world record in the process.

Susie O’Neill breaks swimming world record

Susie O’Neill, who holds the moniker of Madame Butterfly, had not competed in elite swimming since the 2000 Sydney Olympics, which meant her returning to the pool after 23 years. However, it certainly did not look that way since she stormed the competition with a resounding win. The 50m butterfly event at the World Championships saw O’Neill clocking a lightning 29.08 seconds to secure a top podium finish. Her impressive finish also helped her set a new world record as she surpassed the previous world record of 29.27 seconds held by FINA Masters Swimming world record holder, Erika Braun.

However, O’Neill claimed that this was not an easy feat. According to a Startsat60 report, Madame Butterfly said,??I felt like vomiting at the end to be honest.? She further added, “In the olden days, I was nervous before the race, but I was calmer when I went out behind the block.” Despite the pre-race jitters, O’Neill drew strength from an unexpected surge of adrenaline, which propelled her to victory. She maintained that she was nervous before the race, but after her resounding win, she felt really happy as she enjoyed her return to the pool. As much as fans were pleased to see her return, O’Neill made it clear that this was a one-time race, and she does not have plans to return to elite swimming. Madame Butterfly breaking world records only highlights her stellar career that has been full of such illustrious stats.

Susie O’Neill’s impressive career

Throughout her illustrious career, O’Neill has consistently made waves in the world of swimming. Her legacy boasts countless medals and multiple records that include victories in the 200m butterfly event at the 1996 Summer Olympics and the 200m freestyle event at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Her trophy cabinet is home to her 35 Australian titles, forming the bedrock of her dominance. Internationally, her swimming skills have translated into 8 Olympic medals, two of which are gold medals. Yet, her achievements don’t stop there, as she boasts an astounding 24 gold medals from various other major international competitions.

Read more: The Best Male Swimmers at the 2023 Fukuoka Swimming World Championships

Her victory is a result of her deciding to take a shot at the World Championships with her Nova 106.9 Breakfast co-hosts. She will also be competing in the 4x50m mixed relay with her Nova boys Ash Bradnam and David Lutteral, along with one of their listeners, Kylie Fletcher. Susie O?Neill?s latest world record proves that age is just a number for a champion and her legendary legacy continues to inspire more people.

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