Swimming world reacts amid massive news about Aussie Olympic hero Susie O'Neill
She won 35 Australian titles and 24 gold medals in all major competitions, with only Emma McKeon, Ian Thorpe and Leisel Jones winning more Olympic medals for the nation. On Saturday at the AOC's annual general meeting in Sydney, O'Neill and AusCycling chairman Craig Bingham were unveiled as new board members.
O'Neill declared she'll put athletes at the heart of her duties, and is eager to chip in ahead of the Brisbane Olympics in 2032. "Now is a good time in my life to get back involved in the Olympic movement," the 51-year-old told reporters.
"I'm passionate about the Olympics. The lead-in to Brisbane 2032 is really exciting, I want to be a part of it, I want to be around athletes. I want to help athletes as much as I can, using my experience as an athlete and then other things I have learnt along the way."
O'Neill was Australia's deputy Chef de Mission under Anna Meares at the 2021 Games in Tokyo. But she hasn't been involved in the Olympic fold for the last four years, choosing to spend her time on radio in Brisbane instead.
In 2019 she opened up in a devastatingly raw admission about the pain she still felt while thinking about the silver medal she won at the 2000 Games in Sydney. O'Neill was the overwhelming favourite in her pet event on home soil - the 200m butterfly. But she had to settle for silver as 21-year-old American Misty Hyman caused a huge boilover to win.
And 19 years later she was still coming to terms with it. Watching a replay of the race for the very first time on her Nova radio program 'Ash, Kip, Luttsy & Susie', O'Neill broke down in tears.
'I know it's only a swimming race and I know in my head I didn't fail, but with that I just see failure," she admitted. 'I felt like this was my race, home crowd, and to come second for me is failure.
'Of course I thought I was going to win, I'm still trying to find reasons even 19 years later. Not in my wildest dreams did I think [Hyman] was a legitimate competitor to me. Her time was three seconds slower than what she does. She was not a legitimate competitor at this point.'
She admitted she felt relieved to have finally watched the race after 19 years. "It's weird," she added. "I felt so much emotion before but I feel like maybe because I'm still the same person. Just because I lost that doesn't mean I'm that for the rest of my life. I've moved on to other things. I'm not a failure … bit of a sook though.'
Fans from a wide range of sports took to social media to congratulate her on the appointment to the AOC board over the weekend. Many declared Australia's Olympic team and the Brisbane Games in good hands with O'Neill helping steer the ship.
"Everyone knows Susie O'Neill the swimmer, but she also has an extraordinary record in sports administration," said Ian Chesterman, who was re-elected as AOC Chairman. "She's been an IOC [International Olympic Committee] Athletes' Commission member and IOC member, she's served on the AOC executive, led an Australian youth Olympic team and was deputy chef de mission in Tokyo. She knows the business and has an incredible ability to help us moving forward."
Olympic champion swimmer Susie O'Neill AM and @AusCycling Chair Craig Bingham are the newest members to join the Australian Olympic Committee Executive following elections in Sydney today.https://t.co/E3BOX9yfis@SwimmingAUS
— AUS Olympic Team (@AUSOlympicTeam) May 3, 2025
A busy weekend for former Olympic champion swimmer Susie O'Neill.Currently competing at the World Bodysurfing Tour Finals, yesterday she was elected as one of two new additions to the Australian Olympic Committee Executive.
— HER WAY (@herwaysports) May 3, 2025
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