The Scoop: Qld celebrity, sport and business news and gossip
Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice has just kicked off her first full-time job since retiring from professional swimming. WE’VE GOT THE SCOOP
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Olympic gold medallist Stephanie Rice has just kicked off her first full-time job since retiring from professional swimming — and it’s a seriously impressive gig.
The 36-year-old former athlete, who relocated to Dubai in 2023, announced on Instagram this week that she has officially stepped into her new role as commercial director for Phygital International, leading the commercial and sponsorship strategy for Games of the Future, an ambitious international tournament that blends traditional sport with Esports.
Rice shared the update via Instagram Stories, posting a sweet video of her husband, Dubai-based pastor Mark Lassey, kissing her on the forehead alongside the caption: “@mark.lassey celebrating and praying over me on the first day of my official ‘big girl’ job. He is so supportive & encouraging.”
The Games of the Future are hosted in a new country each year, and Rice’s role sees her spearheading revenue growth, international brand partnerships, and sponsorship deals for the hybrid sporting event.
It marks the former swimmer’s first permanent position outside of sport, having previously dabbled in motivational speaking, entrepreneurship, and media appearances following her retirement from swimming in 2014.
In 2024, Rice completed her Master of Business Administration at the University of Queensland.
The exciting career milestone comes just months after Rice tied the knot with Lassey in a romantic vineyard wedding at Sandalford Wines in Perth back in January.
The pair began dating in early 2024 and were engaged by September.
SUSIE’S RETURN TO NOVA
Olympic legend Susie O’Neill has made a surprise return to the airwaves, stepping back behind the mic at Nova 106.9 to celebrate the station’s 20th birthday.
O’Neill, who co-hosted Nova’s top-rating Brisbane breakfast show for more than a decade, reunited with announcer Maddy Rowe on Friday for a guest appearance.
But, in exciting news for fans, Scoop can reveal that O’Neill will return to the airwaves once again for a special two-week stint on a national breakfast show. Starting April 14, she’ll join hosts Mel and Matty for *Mel and Matty with Susie O’Neill*, filling in during the show’s E
aster break. She’ll be on air through the week of April 14, excluding the Friday, and again during the week of April 21, excluding the Monday.
“It has been wonderful to have a break from early mornings on-air but it was great to go back to Nova for this special day,” O’Neill said.
“I’ve missed chatting to our listeners so when the opportunity came up to jump on air with Maddy for Nova 106.9’s 20th birthday celebration, I couldn’t say no. And to think I was there for 10 of them is surreal.”
Nova 106.9 marked the milestone with a full-day 2005 throwback playlist — the year the station launched — and a nod to its humble beginnings. The first broadcast aired from the bedroom of a one-bedroom apartment in Kangaroo Point, while meetings were held in the kitchen and paperwork stored in the bathroom.
Breakfast co-hosts Ash Bradnam and David “Luttsy” Lutteral, both part of the original team, reflected on two decades of memories.
“Social media was in its infancy when we started,” Bradnam said.
“We were only weeks into the show in 2005 when Luttsy didn’t turn up for work. He wasn’t answering his phone, but eventually our producer got him and relayed the call on air — he claimed he had a stomach bug and didn’t want to be contagious. The phones lit up. A listener told us she saw him dancing at a toga party at 2am and had the MySpace photo to prove it. Not even Luttsy could talk his way out of that one.”
O’Neill announced her decision to step down from the breakfast show in October, revealing it had “saved her life” during some of her most challenging times.
DUA LIPA MYSTERY POST
Pop sensation Dua Lipa has given a surprise nod to a Gold Coast-born activewear label during the Australian leg of her Radical Optimism tour, before mysteriously deleting the post.
The global superstar shared a photo on Instagram last Sunday wearing a matching sports bra and leggings set from fitness brand CSB, founded by Gold Coast influencer and entrepreneur Rachel Dillon.
The post, which showcased Lipa’s toned physique during a workout between performances in Melbourne and Sydney, was quickly reshared by Dillon, who reacted with glee.
“Dua Lipa CSB” she wrote in an Instagram Story, alongside the original image.
CSB — which stands for Crop Shop Boutique — has become a cult favourite among the fitfluencer scene, with stars like Rita Ora and American wellness personality Arielle Lorre previously spotted in its pieces.
Dillon is married to fitness entrepreneur Tobi Pearce, who co-founded Sweat with his ex-partner and fellow global fitness identity, Kayla Itsines.
But Lipa’s show of support may have been short-lived. The image has since vanished from the singer’s account without explanation.
HARRY TACKLES THE CATWALK
In a move no one saw coming (least of all himself), Queensland Maroons hooker Harry Grant has made his high-fashion debut in a new ‘Gear Up With Superdry’ campaign, posing alongside AFL players Tom De Koning and Isaac Quaynor in the brand’s puffer jackets.
“I’m definitely more comfortable with a footy in hand,” Grant admitted, adding that while he’s used to the odd NRL photo shoot, this was a true fish-out-of-water moment.
“Me and Tom De Koning were laughing. We’re waiting to be on brown cardigan or something, but I’m still on a shoot in the middle of Richmond.”
As for whether the shoot has unlocked a fashion-forward alter ego? Don’t count on it.
“I don’t think you’ll see too much difference,” he said.
“I like something nice, casual and comfortable. If you’re comfortable with what you’re wearing … you’re going to be comfortable with yourself.”
When asked to name the NRL’s most stylish, Grant gave props to Pat Carrigan, and Reece Walsh before throwing Valentine Holmes under the bus.
“Val always likes looking sharp … he wears some questionable things in Origin,” Grant said.
MARGAUX LEFT MORTIFIED
Triple M radio host Margaux Parker has confessed to a parenting disaster that left her “mortified”, after her nine-year-old daughter accidentally brought a Smirnoff Seltzer to school.
The wife of NRL great Corey Parker shared the jaw-dropping moment on air this week with co-hosts Dan Anstey and Greg ‘Marto’ Martin, revealing she received a phone call no parent wants.
“Hello Margaux, just wanted to let you know there’s been a bit of an incident at school today involving River,” the teacher told her.
“River’s not in the wrong here. but just wanted to bring to your attention you might want to rearrange your drinks fridge at home because River has mistakenly brought in a Smirnoff Seltzer, thinking that it’s a sparkling mineral water.”
Parker explained that the drinks — left over from a weekend gathering — had been placed in the family’s fridge next to Coke cans and mineral waters, making it easy for her daughter to confuse the passionfruit Smirnoff with a Mount Franklin sparkling water.
“I don’t normally drink those Smirnoff seltzers. Someone had brought them to our house on the Saturday night. We put them in that fridge, which is where the Coke and the water and the sparkling water [are] … and they look identical,” she said.
“River genuinely picked up a Smirnoff Seltzer and took it to school, thinking that she was swinging down a passion fruit Mount Franklin sparkling water.”
When she nervously asked how much River had consumed, Marto fired back with the punchline: “She won’t be driving home.”
Originally published as The Scoop: Qld celebrity, sport and business news and gossip
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