Nova radio host and Olympic legend Susie O’Neill quits radio live on air

Nova radio host and former Olympian, Susie O’Neill, broke down in tears as she made a huge personal announcement.

Nova host and Olympic legend Susie O’Neill broke down on air as she announced her decision to quit radio after more than a decade on air.

O’Neill, 51, dropped the bombshell on Friday morning’s episode of the Nova 106.9 breakfast show, Ash, Luttsy and Susie O’Neill, saying she had made the decision “with a very heavy heart”.

The former swimming star, who was nicknamed “Madame Butterfly” and achieved eight Olympic Games medals during her sports career before switching to the airwaves with the Brisbane breakfast team, added that it “wasn’t easy”.

Ash, Luttsy & Susie O'Neill have hosted Nova 1069FM’s breakfast show together for nearly a decade. Picture: Nova

Susie said her co-hosts were ‘like brothers to her’. Picture: Nova

“(Thanks) to Ash and Luttsy for bringing me into your world and life a bit over 10 years ago now, when I pretty much had nothing going on in my life to be honest,” O’Neill said on air.

“I joked that it saved my life at the time,” she said, as she broke down in tears.

“You were both so supportive of me. I was horrible at radio and I’d be upset and say, ‘I can’t do it,’ and you’d say, ‘no, just keep going, just keep going.’

“For a lot of the time it has been more than just a job,” an emotional O’Neill said.

“I actually do have some hard times in my life, even though it seems like I live a pretty good life, but when I’ve had really hard times I’ve known that I can come in here, just be myself and be present and enjoy it.”

O’Neill said it was hard for her to articulate exactly why she had decided to leave.

“I think turning fifty last year I realised I’m at a whole new stage in my life. Our kids have grown up and I just feel the next chapter will see me pursue other goals, both professionally and personally.

“I feel like I want to get back to the grassroots of sport, and to involve myself more in the wider community. And while it’s going to be an emotional final day on November 28 saying goodbye to everyone, including our listeners, I do know whatever this next chapter brings, that my Nova family won’t be far away.

Susie O'Neill made the shock announcement on radio on Friday morning. Picture: Supplied

“Nova has been amazing to me – a huge shout out to all of you who helped me navigate my way from the very beginning of my radio career, I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to front such an awesome show.

“Both on and off air, it’s been a privilege and honour to learn a whole new set of skills and for people to get to know me beyond the sporting world.

“And to our listeners, you are who I am going to miss the most – I’ve loved my time with you and nothing pleases me more than when one of you comes up and recount a story I have shared on air.

“You are the reason we get up at the crack of dawn, so thank you for the hundreds of wonderful memories.”

She made the decision with a ‘heavy heart’. Picture: Instagram

O’Neill is considered one of Australia’s most successful Olympians. Picture: Steve Pohlner

O’Neill first joined Nova Brisbane in 2013 as a casual sports reporter, joining the breakfast team of David “Luttsy” Lutteral and Ashley Bradnam (and their then-co-host, Kip Wightman) in May 2016.

“It’s been an incredible experience becoming great mates with Susie over the last decade,” Lutteral said in a statement.

“A wild adventure to say the very least and an opportunity I’ll cherish forever. While I’ll obviously miss seeing her every day I also can’t wait to see the next chapters of her life.

“I know whatever is next for Suse is going to be fantastic. We will no doubt stay in touch but at the very least I will see her lighting the cauldron at Brisbane Stadium in 2032.”

NOVA Entertainment’s CEO, Peter Charlton, added, “Susie is an enormous talent who, alongside Ash and Luttsy, has built a unique connection with the Brisbane audience for over a decade. Seeing her transform from medal winner to consistent ratings winner has been an absolute pleasure and Susie will always be a part of the NOVA family.”

Meanwhile, Bradnam described his time working alongside the sports legend as a “privilege”.

“As a cadet sports journalist at 4BC in the mid 1990s, I had the privilege of first interviewing Susie,” he recalled.

“Her unique combination of shyness, resilience, candour and her quirky nature immediately impressed me, establishing her as my favourite swimmer.

“When Susie later joined our radio team, she brought these same qualities to her on-air presence. Our audience quickly embraced her genuine charm, much as I had years earlier.

“Over the past 11 years I have watched on as Susie has developed into an outstanding broadcaster, an experience that has been one of the highlights of my career.

“We have shared countless moments of laughter and created lasting memories. As Susie kicks off the next phase of her career I am filled with pride in her accomplishments and excited to witness her future endeavours.”

O’Neill will wrap up her time at Nova at the end of the radio ratings year, with her final show on Thursday, November 28.

The station’s new breakfast show line-up for 2025 is yet to be announced.

Originally published as Nova radio host and Olympic legend Susie O’Neill quits radio live on air