This was supposed to be Susie O’Neill’s belated gap year, when the Olympic swimming legend, who turns 52 in August, would change it up, try new things, take a break from full-time work to reclaim a bit of herself.
Late last year, she announced she’d be stepping away from her job at Nova radio in Brisbane. The plan was to spend 2025 holidaying, four-wheel-driving, and generally enjoying being an empty-nester with her husband, Cliff.
But six months on O’Neill, famously nicknamed Madame Butterfly because of her record-breaking butterfly and freestyle swims, has to admit none of her best-laid plans have come to fruition.
Instead, she’s swapped the radio studio for the dance studio to compete on this year’s Dancing With The Stars.
The question is, why?
“Dancing definitely wasn’t on my bingo list,” O’Neill laughs.
“I was asked (to do the show) years and years ago, when it first started, and it was something I said I would never do.”
But time sometimes changes your perspective and by the time producers reached out in late 2024, O’Neill was more open to the idea. It helped she had also recently — and coincidentally — been listening to a podcast about the UK version of the show.
There was a strange sense of synchronicity that seemed serendipitous.
“It felt like there were all these things pointing to the fact that I should say yes to doing it,” she says.
“I am 52 this year, and I think when I turned 50, I never wanted to feel like I didn’t want to try new things. I saw a post the other day on Instagram, which was like, ‘what are you a beginner at?’
“It was talking about starting new things, and how important it is to push yourself. And I agree: it’s good, it keeps you young. Well, maybe not young, but less stale.”
O’Neill, who has enjoyed a career in broadcasting and commentating since retiring from professional swimming, could never be accused of that.
The champion swimmer, who boasts two Olympic gold medals (Atlanta in 1996 and Sydney in 2000, both in the 200m butterfly), nine Commonwealth Games gold medals, and 24 wins at major international events, has worked consistently since retiring in 2000. Dancing on the show with Lyu Masuda, to raise money for The Fred Hollows Foundation, is just another in a long line of accomplishments.
This season will see her competing alongside other high-profile contenders, including radio and podcast host Brittany Hockley, comedian Felicity Ward, TV host Osher Gunsberg, comedian Shaun Micallef, and actor Rebecca Gibney.
O’Neill admits to feeling some trepidation about the fact all of Australia is about to see her as a “beginner” at a sport that is well and truly out of her comfort zone.
“You learn a lot about yourself, especially doing things you are not good at. I found that challenging,” she admits.
“Well, compared to swimming — when you are the best in the world at something.”
But O’Neill is nothing if not relentlessly optimistic, and she’s taking a philosophical outlook as she prepares for her dancing journey, which is filmed in advance, to finally be broadcast to viewers.
“I’ve been in denial (that people will actually see it),” she says.
“But I feel fine now, because it’s done.”
“I feel like it’s kind of like childbirth, in that while you’re doing it, you’re like, ‘Oh my God, who would do this?’ because it really was traumatic in places. But now it’s done, I’m not so emotional.”
One way O’Neill was able to de-stress during filming and the show’s rigorous rehearsal period (she relocated from Brisbane to Sydney for the duration) was through swimming. Retreating to the comfort and familiarity of the pool was her saving grace while competition played out.
“Swimming is still my favourite thing to do,” O’Neill says.
“I swim maybe three or four times a week — not many (ex-professional) swimmers can say that.
“Swimming is something I do, especially when I’m stressed out. I swam a bit during filming with (DWTS host) Dr Chris Brown. He’s actually a really good swimmer. We trained near where I was staying, and he’d come and meet me.”
With the competition now concluded, O’Neill is back to what’s left of her gap year, while waiting for the show to go to air.
She’s planning some upcoming four-wheel-drive trips, has just signed on to be a member of the Australian Olympic Committee, and there’s another (much-needed) holiday in the works. She’ll also be back later in the year doing fill-in radio shifts for Nova.
“My gap year never really happened, and I haven’t really had a break yet,” she laughs.
“But it’s good — I have to pinch myself. I’m very lucky.”
Dancing With The Stars premieres at 7pm on June 15 on Seven.