Despite Taking 23 Year Break, Olympic Legend Shatters Swimming World Record in First Appearance

No one surprised the world more than the 49 year- old Olympic gold medalist who broke a record recently. After more than two decades away from the competitions former Australian swimmer with multiple world records to her name decided to hop back and set the record straight. Being the first win since her last career highlight in the World Championships makes this victory particularly notable in itself.

Records are meant to be broken, but what sets the standard is that age is not a factor in athletic achievement. One such example of a skill that never ages is Madame Butterfly, who took part in her old forte.

What world record did the International Swimming Hall of Fame break this time?

Susie O’Neill broke Erica Braun’s master’s world record, which she had set the year before with a time of 29.14 for the 50-54 age category, by clocking a stunning 28.95. The SCM 50 butterfly competition in Brisbane’s Chandler Aquatic Centre was her first competition and butterfly race since the Sydney Olympics in 2000. As soon as she stepped out of the pool and learned about the time, she exclaimed, “What the hell?” laughing at the incredible feat.

O’Neill said, “I was just swimming for a bit of fun, as part of my 50th birthday celebrations next month” reported a news source. Despite being 49, the World Aquatics’ regulations allow the participant from December 31 of the year, hence, she qualified for the 50-54 age group. After competing for the first time in 23 years, O’Neill qualified for the World Masters Championships that will take place later this summer in Japan. 

The decorated Australian swimmer talks about coming back to a whole different era as a swimmer. The 35 Australian titles holder revealed being unprepared for everything involved in swimming including donning a swimsuit. She adds, “The technology’s changed a lot in 23 years, because we had fast skins back then from Speedo,” and admitted taking help from fellow Olympic gold medalist, Jessicah Schipper, to get into her Speedo LZR suit. While the two have the Olympic golds in common, there is more to the Australian swimmer’s stack of achievements.

Highlights of Susie O’Neill’s successful swimming career 

With a nearly three-decade-long career, many remarkable achievements and records had stood for years that were shattered. Some of O’Neill’s biggest career victories were between 1990 and 2000. In the 200-meter fly at the 1999 World Championships, she broke Mary T. Meagher’s 19-year-old world record. She won eight medals in the Olympic Games, including individual golds in the 200 butterfly and 200 freestyle in 1996 and 2000. Her total win of ten gold medals in the Commonwealth Games is the most any Australian has ever achieved in any sport.

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Despite breaking multiple world records throughout her swimming career, she remains humble about her comeback as she mentions, “This will be a one and done.” To prepare for the World Masters in Fukuoka, Japan, O’Neill teamed up with her Nova 106.9 Brisbane co-hosts Ash Bradnam, David Lutteral, and friend Kylie Fletcher as a relay team. The Australian swimmer appears to have returned with her competition suit on, setting examples of her glory in the pool yet again.

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