Olympic gold medallist Susie O’Neill is returning to her high school, Lourdes Hill College in Hawthorne, Queensland as part of the Australian Olympic Committee’s Olympic Day celebrations.
Olympic gold medallist Susie O’Neill is returning to her high school, Lourdes Hill College in Hawthorne, Queensland as part of the Australian Olympic Committee’s Olympic Day celebrations.
The three-time Olympian and multiple Olympic medallist will address Year 8, Year 9, and Year 10 students in a special assembly at 9.30am on Thursday 16 June. O’Neill hopes to inspire the students to work hard and follow their dreams in everything they do.
“My overall message will be anything is possible,” O’Neill said. “I will sharing with the students my three tips for success. They are working on the little things, controlling the controllables and having self belief.”
O’Neill was a student at Lourdes Hill College from 1986 to 1990. The dual Olympic gold medallist is thrilled but surprised to know she still holds a school sport record.
“I was told a few weeks ago when visiting the school that I am the record holder for the 14-year-old 800m running race,” O’Neill laughed.
The passionate Queenslander will also share with the students how she felt about school and sport when she was at high school.
“When I was growing up I used to think Olympic gold medallists were different. But while training and competing with them I realised they were normal people,” she said.
Olympic Day is an international community event celebrating sport, education and culture. In Australia, Olympians are returning to school to talk about their experience at the Olympic Games and the positive impact sport has had on their life.
And the Queensland Olympians are doing their bit. On Friday 17 June Olympic gold medallist Linda MacKenzie will visit Hampden State School just outside of Mackay. In the state’s capital on Monday 20 June, Olympic gold medallist Angie Lambert will visit Brisbane Girls Grammar and on Thursday 23 June 1960 swimming Olympian Bill Burton will chat with students from Albany Creek State High School.
AOC