Ex-Olympian Susie O’Neill breaks world record at first swim comp after Sydney Olympics

It’s been 25 years since Madame Butterfly has raced in the pool, so no one was more surprised than Susie O’Neill when she broke a world record.

Australia’s original Madame Butterfly is taking to the skies again.

In her first race in almost a quarter of a century, Australian swimming legend Susie O’Neill has just broken ­another world record.

This one was in the 50m butterfly, in the 50-54 age bracket, and no one was more surprised than O’Neill herself.

“It was weird, I had no idea about the record,” she said.

“I was just swimming for a bit of fun, as part of my 50th birthday celebrations next month.” O’Neill was only told about the record after she got out of the water.

Her time of 28.95 seconds broke the previous record, set by American Leslie Livingston at the 2012 Albatross Open in Maryland.

Former Olympian Susie O’Neill qualified for the World Aquatics Masters Championships when she broke the world record in the 50m butterfly. Picture: Tertius Pickard

One of Australia’s all-time greats, who won Olympic gold medals in 1996 and 2000, O’Neill retired after Sydney’s Games, but recently decided to make a brief comeback.

As part of her 50th birthday celebrations, she agreed to compete at next month’s World Masters in Fukuoka, Japan, in a relay event with her Nova 106.9 Breakfast co-hosts Ash Bradnam and David Lutteral, plus one lucky listener.

O’Neill in action at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

But, to qualify for the relay, O’Neill also had to post a time in an individual event, so she went down to Chandler Aquatic Centre in Brisbane on Saturday for what became literally a quick dip.

“It‘s my first butterfly race since the 200m butterfly in Sydney,” she said.

“Actually it’s my first comp since the Sydney Olympics.

“I didn’t think I’d ever be coming to a swim meet again.

“And once again it’s affected all my weekend plans.”

O’Neill broke one of the most revered records in swimming in the lead-up to the ­Sydney Olympics when she bettered the legendary 200m butterfly mark of Mary T. Meagher.

O’Neill won the 200m gold at Atlanta in 1996 then a ­second Olympic gold in the 200m freestyle at Sydney.

One of Australia’s most decorated swimmers, she won 67 international medals, including eight at the Olympics.

She said she still swims regularly to keep fit, but has no plans to make a comeback to the masters circuit despite her record-breaking feat.

“This will be a one and done,” she said.

“It‘s more just to go over and have a bit of fun for my 50th, compete in the relay with the boys from Australia.

“I swim a couple of times a week, I probably do three ­sessions a week.

“I still love swimming. It’s probably my favourite. If I’m feeling really stressed, I go swimming.

“Or if I don‘t swim for a couple of days, I started to feel funny, because you can breathe really well and I just feel really good in the water.”

Originally published as Ex-Olympian Susie O’Neill breaks world record at first swim comp after Sydney Olympics