Susie O’Neill breaks world record in first competitive swim since 2000 Olympics

Former Olympic champion and Nova 106.9 host Susie O’Neill has done it again, breaking a world record in a triumphant return to competitive swimming on Monday. See the race replay

Swimming icon and radio personality Susie O’Neill has broken the world record in a triumphant return to the international swimming arena at the World Aquatics Masters Championships in Japan on Monday.

Marking the Olympian’s first competitive swim since the Sydney Olympics in 2000, O’Neill competed in the 50m women’s butterfly event in Fukuoka and finished the race in 29.08 seconds - a world record for her 50-54 age bracket.

“I felt like vomiting at the end to be honest,” O’Neill admitted during a post-race chat with her Nova 106.9 co-hosts Ash Bradnam and David ‘Luttsy’ Lutteral.

“In the olden days I was nervous before the race, but I was calmer when I went out behind the block. This was like the opposite - I was calm before, but as I walked out behind the blocks I got a bit dishevelled compared to normal. Really jittery.”

Susie O'Neill breaking the world record for the women's 50m butterfly at the World Aquatics Masters Championships.

Despite the nerves, O’Neill harnessed the adrenaline for an outstanding performance.

“I got a massive surge of adrenaline, and I reckon it helped me,” she said.

The swimmer was not initially aware that she had managed to beat the world record.

“I wasn’t sure when I first finished,” she said.

Hot on O’Neill’s heels was British swimmer Michelle Ware in the adjacent lane, finishing an impressively narrow 0.52 seconds behind the record-breaking time set by O’Neill.

Susie O'Neill broke the world record in the 50m butterfly event at the World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka on Monday (50-54 age bracket). Photo: Nova 106.9

O’Neill also candidly recounted the difficulties she encountered leading up to the race, including a pre-race hiccup with her swim gear.

“It was time to go out, and my goggles had come apart. My hands were shaking - and I couldn’t put my goggles on because they came apart at the nose-piece. So, I had to get a lady to help me, and the girl that I ended up just beating was trying to calm me down. My nerves hit me really, really badly.”

Despite the tumultuous pre-race moments, O’Neill relished the camaraderie and excitement of the competition.

“But it was so much fun. I met so many people in the marshalling area that I knew. For example, there was a Canadian girl in that race, and we swapped clothes in 1989 when we came to Japan for the Pan Pacific Games.”

She is accompanied in Japan by her Nova co-hosts Bradnam and ‘Luttsy’, who are not only supporting her but who will also participate in individual races and a 50m mixed relay alongside schoolteacher and Nova listener Kylie Fletcher on Wednesday.

Nova hosts Susie O'Neill, David 'Luttsy' Lutteral and Ash Bradnam were set to compete in the relay event at the World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka. Photo: Nova 106.9

Before Monday’s race O’Neill, who recently celebrated her 50th birthday, admitted feeling anxious about her comeback race on Monday.

Her main concern ahead of Monday, she revealed on-air, was getting into her modern Speedo LZR racer swimsuit.

“I’m actually nervous. I woke up in the middle of the night and I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m swimming today’” she said.

“My biggest, my biggest concerns are getting into the swimmers.”

This comes after the swim star found herself struggling to get into her swimsuit during her time trials in Brisbane in June, admitting that fellow swimmer Jessica Schipper had to help her slip into the swimsuit.

“That (the swimsuit) was so tight – the core, it’s like you’re wearing a corset,” she previously told her Nova co-hosts.

“It took us 15 minutes to get them on. Jessicah Schipper, who’s a faster 200 butterflyer than me, had to dress me.

“I had my two butt cheeks hanging out, and Jessicah was kneeling down, trying to drag them up over my butt cheeks. I’m naked from the waist up. It was the most intimate thing I’ve ever done in a long time.”

Susie O'Neill with co-hosts Ash Bradnam and David 'Luttsy' Lutteral. Picture: Nova 106.0

As part of her 50th birthday celebrations, O’Neill had agreed to compete at the World Masters in the relay event with Bradnam, Lutteral, plus one lucky listener. 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 in June to make the time.

In that quick dip, she managed to break the world record for the 50m butterfly in the 50-54 age bracket, which put her on course to swim in the Masters’ individual event. The anticipated race on Monday saw O’Neill pitted against competitors in the fastest heat for the women’s 50m butterfly in the 50 to 54 year age bracket.

RACE TIMES:

Monday 7 August from 4.30pm AEST: Susie O’Neill competes in 50m women’s butterfly – Event #13 / heat 27

Tuesday 8 August from 10.30am AEST: Ash Bradnam competes in 50m men’s freestyle – Event#15 / heat 64

Tuesday 8 August from 10.30am AEST: David “Luttsy” Lutteral competes in 50m men’s freestyle – Event#15 / heat 80

Wednesday 9 August from approx. lunchtime (time is yet to be released) – Susie, Ash, Luttsy and Kylie Fletcher (Nova listener) compete in 50m Freestyle Mixed Relay – Event #25 / heat 9