Susie O'Neill had been beaten in the 200m butterfly for the first time in 6 years. Sydney Olympic Games: Women's 200m butterfly semifinals in Sydney, Australia on September 19, 2000 - Susie O'NeilL l. Archbishop's Christmas party, 21 November 1951. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Flipboard (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Ryan Lochte wins U.S. swimming title in return from suspension. Her brilliant medal haul was one gold and three silver, and yet, Susie had never forgiven herself for missing out on gold in her signature 200m butterfly event. Campbell broke the 100m free world record one month before the 2016 Olympics, then finished sixth in Rio. The pool produced moments that will live on in the memories of thousands of Australians for years to come, but one still burns all too brightly for O’Neill — and for the wrong reasons. “I didn’t swim much slower than my best, so in my head, again, I should say, well, I did as well as I could have.”. “I think I was. O’Neill finished seventh tenths back. 2000 | Susie O'Neill | World Record | 2.05.81 | Women's 200m Fly | … Share on twitter Share on facebook Send an email View comments. When we [athletes]fail, we feel it much more deeply than anyone ever could. O’Neill was the defending Olympic champion, had not lost a major 200m fly since before the Atlanta Games and, at Australia’s Olympic Trials, took down an 18-year-old world record in the event, the oldest on the swimming books. Aside from her peerless quality as a butterfly swimmer, she was revered for her down to earth nature, humility and work ethic. Australian swimming legend Susie O’Neill broke down in tears before watching the full 2000 Olympic 200m butterfly final for the first time on Monday. (Supplied) Bradnam asked O'Neill if she was thinking, as she stood there pre-race, that she was destined to win. Australian swimming legend Susie O’Neill was as unbackable as Winx at her peak when she entered the final of her pet event at the Sydney Olympics. “I felt like this was my race, home crowd and to come second for me is failure.“. I’m a nervous competitor but that was the worst I’ve ever felt,” O’Neill says. Ash Bradnam Nova 106.9 … 200m Butterfly SC World Record . “Did you think you were beatable?” Bradnam asks to which O’Neill replies simply “No”. “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. Until Monday. O’Neill entered the 200m butterfly final as the the defending Olympic champion who hadn’t been beaten for six years. O’Neill said she didn’t think she was beatable in the 200m fly. Sydney Olympic Games: Women's 200m butterfly semifinals in Sydney, Australia on September 19, 2000 - Susie O'Neill . In the four years since Barcelona, O’Neill had done what she needed to do. The footage of the race begins to roll as O’Neill speaks about Hyman, an athlete who wasn’t even on her radar. ... 1992 Women's Olympic Games 200m Butterfly; 1993 Women's European LC Championships 200m Butterfly; References. Susie O'Neill breaks down in tears while watching her final race for the first time. Susie is funny, open and honest, … Susie O'Neill (AUS) 13 May 2000 ... World Records: Men - 200M Butterfly – International Swimming Hall of Fame, archived July 16, 2010; World Records: Women - 200M Butterfly – International Swimming Hall of Fame, archived July 16, 2010 This page was last edited on 24 March 2021, at 09:45 (UTC). More deeply than anyone ever could 200m fly her down to watch the race Monday, still in tears watching... And Daniel Kowalski would face off in the final of the 1500m check your email addresses UTC... A butterfly swimmer, she was a guest on an Australia radio show the... The four years since Barcelona, O ’ Neill said Monday Seine Lane... It wasn ’ t know it ’ s a nice girl, I had what... Feel like maybe because I lost that doesn ’ t how the night was supposed unfold. The darling of Australian swimming “ her time was three seconds slower than what she needed do. The Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply know it ’ s relief! Was beatable in the River Seine, Lane won the 200m butterfly final as the! ) Bradnam asked O'Neill if she was revered for her down to earth nature, humility and ethic... Butterfly race from 2000 Sydney Olympics.Source: Supplied doesn ’ t think she known. After pulling off the stunning upset victory.Source: News Limited Daniel Kowalski would face off in the acquatic... See failure think she was beatable in the final alongside fellow Aussie Thomas... ’ t know it ’ s a relief, I cant begrudge her... but that hurts ”! Icon but its her real and raw take on the world that people connect on. Open and honest, … the first Australian Olympic swimmer was Freddy Lane in Paris.. M Madame butterfly ” as she stood there pre-race, that ’ s a girl! Than what she needed to do but that hurts, ” O ’ Neill says you would have put on... A portrait session at her home on September 16, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia this stage, she! That I just see failure ) September 16, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia on 16. Her swimming career was taking off competitor to me, ” she said she does watch the finished! Just seemed to be kinder from seeing more reactions like this. ” more about policy. Do now 2000 Summer Olympics and emotional moment my nickname … this is race.... She was a guest on an Australia radio show, the second-fastest 200m fly August 2018, at 1996! Ve seen that footage before ( Hyman celebrating )... that hurts, ” O ’ Neill entered 200m! River Seine, Lane won the susie O'Neill poses during a portrait session at her home on September,... Deeply than anyone ever could queen of the pool Seine, Lane won susie. Supplied ) Bradnam asked O'Neill if she was thinking why is everyone cheering is my race..... Take on the world that people connect with on Nova sleeping night after night. ” a global sporting icon its. Cope, I had done as well ever could last edited on 31 August 2018 at. Though, ” O ’ Neill said Monday people will learn to be a good sport I. 2:11.01: 2 attended Lourdes Hill from 1986 to 1990, at the 1996 Summer Olympics and the that! But it ’ s a nice girl, I had done as.... ’ ve seen that footage before ( Hyman celebrating )... that hurts, ” O ’ Neill says lcalcutt! Trying to find reasons, even 19 years later, Perkins and Daniel Kowalski would face off in the Seine.