Olympic medal winning swimmer looks unrecognisable as a teenager attending her high school formal

She’s one of Australia’s most accomplished athletes, but she looked unrecognisable as a teenager, heading to her high school formal, in a throwback photo. 

Having won eight Olympic medals for her prowess in the swimming pool, she’s also broken multiple world records. 

A gifted swimmer who first trialled for the Australian Olympic team at the tender age of 14, she has 35 Australian titles under her belt. 

The girl in the picture is none other than Olympic swimmer, Susie O’Neill, 47. 

In the image, Susie is a teenager attending her formal, dressed in a satin frock with lace trimming, which belonged to her mother. 

She told The Courier Mail: ‘One style faux pas that comes to mind was when I went to a formal in high school and wore one of my mum’s dresses. 

‘It was pale pink satin, drop waist! My mum did my hair in curlers and I wore blue eyeshadow when it wasn’t in fashion!’ 

It comes after the swimming golden girl broke down in tears watching her final race at the Sydney Olympic Games. 

On September 20, 2000, the then 27-year-old was expected to easily win gold in the 200m butterfly final, but it didn’t go to script. 

During a trial for the race, O’Neill broke a 19-year-old world record, but lost to American Misty Hyman in the official race. 

Two decades on, she faced her fears and for the first time watched the moment she lost the event.

‘I know it’s only a swimming race but when I look at that, I see failure. I’m still trying to find reasons 19 years later,’ she said on Brisbane’s Nova 106.9. 

‘I remember when the race finished just feeling numb and going what do I do now?

‘In my head I was telling myself to be a good sport and I was thinking why is everyone cheering? We’re in Australia and they just seemed to be cheering.’

Susie said it was hard to congratulate Hyman, but said she feels better after watching the race.