In this edition of Beyond the Blocks we feature 71-year-old Mick Schuddinh who – as the oldest competitor at the recent Australian Open Championships – was possibly the greatest untold story at Brisbane Aquatic Centre – until now.

Staying in Good Mick

Serendipitous plot twist delivers PB

IT was a blunder that delivered one of the most heart-warming moments of this years’ Australian Open Championships.

Standing on block six, heat three of the men’s multi-class 200m freestyle at the 2025 Australian Open Championships – Miami’s Mick Schuddinh (pictured) questioned himself for half a moment.

At 71 years of age, Mick was easily 30 years old than most of the field and for a blink of an eyelash wondered how on earth he had found himself competing at Swimming Australia’s recent Open Nationals – not the Masters Swimming Nationals.

Mick, who has poor vision, had only raced the 200m freestyle once before and never as a multi-class athlete.

“I love to swim and I love to race, so I was very excited about this new challenge ahead,” Mick said.

“But moments before, watching Australia’s best swimmers, I found myself questioning ‘what was I doing there?’ … In all honestly, I was afraid that I would let myself down.

“Then I remembered what my brother told me years ago, which pushed me to do my first marathon – while he entered for the eleventh time – he said ‘Mick, just complete it, you don’t have to race it’.”

So, complete it he did and in a personal best time of 2:41.08.

“That PB was enough for me to say that my nationals experience was successful. I had a race plan that I stuck to but most importantly I gave it my all.”

Training at Miami under coach Todd Robinson, Mick is close to matching his 50m freestyle time from high school.

Growing up in South Africa, Mick is a life-long lover of the water and sports who took immense pride in his appointed captaincy of his school’s swim club in 1972.

But for more than 50 years, Mick has chased cracking the 30 second barrier for the 50m free.

A 29.9s time would have granted Mick a spot in the men’s 4x50m freestyle relay team but he missed the mark.

“I was the swimming captain at a highly competitive sporting school (in South Africa) and it stung to miss out on that relay,” recalled Mick.

“To break the 30 second mark in the 50m freestyle is a life-long goal that represents so much more than just a fast time to get into a competitive team. It is what drives me to stay active in life.

“So here I am, decades later, more determined than ever.”

Mick has just 10 percent vision, in his right eye only, due to Retinitis Pigmentosa, a hereditary condition passed down from his father.

“Once I was diagnosed, I decided to stay as active as possible and throw myself into it all. It hasn’t been all easy … a few years ago I had to give up surfing, which I loved dearly, because I became too much of a danger to myself and others,” he said.

Over the years and with the support of others, Mick entered state swim meets, Ironmans, the Pan Pacific Masters Games and even dabbled in track athletics.

“Sport is everything. It encompasses all the feels of life, the very highs and the very lows.

“Plus, sport presents you with goals that will keep you in good shape mentally and physically. For me the goal continues to be making the time to get on that 1972 4x50m relay team.”

An ever-determined Mick will have another crack at the 30 second mark in November at the Masters Swimming Queensland State Championships.

And yes – you and Mick read that right.

Masters State Championships.

We hope you enjoyed this Beyond The Blocks read!

Dive into more Beyond The Blocks stories below:

The Little Club That Could: Explore the legacy of the famous Carlile Swimming Club

(Featuring Carlile Head Age Coach Michaela Pattinson)