Susie O’Neill announces World Aquatic Masters Championships individual race

After weeks of speculation, Nova 106.9’s Susie O’Neill has confirmed she will compete in the individual 50m butterfly at the World Aquatics Masters Championships in Japan on August 7.

Susie’s return will mark her first international competition butterfly race since the Sydney Olympics in 2000. 

The news of the return follows her unexpected breaking of the world record at a recent meet on May 18th, where she swam in the 50m butterfly 50-54 age group race to qualify to compete in the relay – and she subsequently broke the world record.

The decision to compete came about on air after pondering how to mark celebrations for her upcoming 50th birthday on August 2.

 

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A post shared by Ash, Luttsy & Susie O’Neill (@ashluttsyandsusieoneill)

Initially reluctant, Susie embraced the idea of competing in a team relay for Ash, Luttsy & Susie O’Neill’s Mission Swim Possible, with Nova 106.9 co-hosts Ash Bradnam and David ‘Luttsy’ Lutteral and Nova listener Kylie Fletcher.

“The fact it is a relay team, with those guys, is really what makes me want to do it. I’ve never really been part of a team before I joined the radio show, so I think the fact it is a relay, with them, gets me excited,” Susie said. 

“And that the fourth member will be a Nova listener makes it even better. We will have a lot of fun.”

Susie said she had been thinking about her gold and silver wins at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, deciding to give it one last go, but it would be a one and done race.

“I figured we are going over, so why not just do the 50m fly. I may as well – it will be fun. No pressure. It’s great Ash and Luttsy are now doing individual races too. One in, all in! The main reason we are going for is the relay though – and for fun. But this will definitely be it for me for competitive swimming,” Susie said. 

Susie qualifies for the 50-54 age group because, “the actual attained age of the swimmer shall be determined as of 31st December of the year of competition”.

The Nova 106.9 Breakfast team will broadcast each day from Fukuoka, Japan, from Monday, August 7 through to Friday, August 11, around them all now competing in their individual races – Susie on Monday, August 7 and Ash and Luttsy on Tuesday, August 8, and their relay race on Wednesday, August 9.

Listen to the announcement below.