Susie a winner at St Cecilia’s

Sydney
13 July 2003

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Susie a winner at St Cecilia’s

“Madame Butterfly” - Susie O’Neill - with the swimming team at St Cecilia’s primary school, Balgowlah

By Damir Govorcin

Olympic gold medallist Susie O’Neill was the queen of the kids when she paid a special visit to St Cecilia’s primary school, Balgowlah.

“Madame Butterfly”, as Susie was affectionately known during her swimming career, presented the school with a $500 prize for winning its regional final in the Sydney Children’s Hospital inaugural Fitkids 4 Sick Kids competition.

Susie happily signed autographs, posed for photos and answered the students’ questions during her time at the school.

Students in 54 schools in eight regions across the state had entered the hospital’s competition by eating healthy foods and exercising regularly over a period of four weeks.

Their results were then assessed and judged at the hospital.

St Cecilia’s had the highest percentage of healthy children in the north-eastern region.

The $500 prize will go towards the purchase of sporting equipment.

The school principal, Leanne Nicol, says her students “are aware of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and were pleased to learn that their efforts to stay healthy would help the sick children at the Sydney Children’s Hospital”.

Susie O’Neill, one of the world’s best freestyle and butterfly swimmers, was a world record holder who won a swag of medals at Olympic, Comm-onwealth and national levels.

She swam at three Olympics, beginning with a bronze medal in the 200 metres butterfly at Barcelona in 1992.

At the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, she won gold in the same event, plus silver in the 4x100m individual medley relay and bronze in the 4x200m freestyle relay.

She won six gold and two silver medals at the Common-wealth Games two years later, then competed in the Sydney Olympics in 2000, winning gold in the 200m freestyle, silver in the 200m butterfly and silver in the 4x200m freestyle and 4x100m medley relays.

She announced her retirement from competitive swimming after the Sydney Games.

“Susie was so wonderful with the children and was patient answering all their questions,” says Virginia Macken, the school’s promotions officer.

“She is a true ambassador for her sport and is a terrific role model for the children.”

As well as speaking to the students about the benefits of healthy eating and exercise, Susie O’Neill signed items such as caps and swimming costumes, which will be auctioned at the school’s annual golf day at Manly Golf Club on August 28.