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Susie MaroneyAustralian swimmer
Date of Birth: 15.11.1974
Country:  Australia |
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Biography of Susie Maroney
Susie Maroney was an Australian swimmer who achieved great success in marathon swimming. She was born as Susan Jean Maroney in 1974 in Cronulla, New South Wales. At birth, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, but the condition was not severe and was kept a secret until 2007. In a television show called 'Enough Rope', Susie and her mother Pauline revealed the truth about her condition.
Family and Early Life
Susie's father, Norm Maroney, was an assistant commissioner of police in New South Wales. Her brother Michael was also a police officer and a triathlete. Unfortunately, her twin brother Sean, who was also a triathlete, tragically passed away in 2002 after falling from a balcony in Honolulu.
At the age of four, Susie started swimming and showed a natural talent for the sport. By the age of 13, she had already transitioned to long-distance swimming. Despite struggling in school, Susie dedicated herself fully to swimming and training.
Career Achievements
In 1989, Susie gained recognition in the sporting world when she finished third in the Australian Marathon Swimming Championship for Women at the age of 14. In 1990, she became the first person to complete a swim from Manly to Darling Harbour, taking approximately seven hours. That same year, she set a new speed record in the English Channel, also known as the La Manche.
On May 12, 1997, at the age of 22, Susie Maroney became the first person to swim 180 kilometers (110 miles) in the Florida Straits, completing a swim from Cuba to the United States. In 1998, she swam from Mexico to Cuba, covering a record distance of 197 kilometers (122 miles) and spending a record-breaking 38 hours and 33 minutes in the water. In September 1999, Susie completed another swim, this time from Jamaica to Cuba, covering 160 kilometers.
It is worth mentioning that Susie swam within a shark cage during her long-distance swims. However, in 1999, she faced health problems when she was hospitalized for asthma after one of her charity swims. Around the same time, she made headlines in Australian tabloids for a DUI arrest, which she later attributed to a nervous breakdown.
Susie Maroney officially retired from swimming on February 23, 2003. To mark her retirement, she completed a swim from the iconic Sydney Opera House to Manly. She has two daughters, Paris Seana Maroney and Capri, from different relationships.
Legacy
Susie Maroney's records and achievements in marathon swimming still stand today. She is regarded as one of the most renowned female athletes in the sport, leaving a lasting legacy in the world of long-distance swimming.
