Vale Melissa Roberts OAM

Swimming Australia today mourns the passing of champion Dolphin #453, Melissa Roberts OAM.

Born in 1974 in Sutherland, Roberts (nee Cunningham) made her Dolphins debut at the 1993 Pan Pacific Championships and joined an elite group of world-class open water athletes.

A year after her Australian debut, she was crowned the 25km FINA World Champion and was named the 1994 Swimming World Magazine Female Open Water Swimmer of the Year.

Her extensive accolades also include recognition on Sydney Olympic Park’s Path of Champions, Swimming Australia’s Open Water Swimmer of the Year in 1994 and 1996 and induction into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 2013.

As tough as a they come, Roberts’ first ever open water swim was swum inside a shark cage for the 8km stretch between Townsville to Magnetic Island.

She also pushed herself to the limit when she claimed a Guinness World Record of the most kilometres swum in a pool in 24-hours by a female athlete.

The feat, which left her allergic to chlorine, was achieved at her home pool at the time, Brisbane’s Chandler, and Roberts clocked a whopping 93kms in 24-hours, smashing the preexisting record by 10.9km.

In a stunning career, Roberts also won the 25km race at the 1996 FINA World Championships in Switzerland.

After retiring from elite swimming, Roberts threw herself into giving back to the sport.

She helped found the Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, was a respected technical official, an administrator and also served as an announcer at the first Olympic 10km marathon swimming event in Beijing 2008.

She was also the international Chief Commentator for open water swimming at the 2007 FINA World Championships in Melbourne.

For her service to swimming, Roberts was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) at this year’s Australia Day Awards, and the dedicated Dolphin expressed her prolonged gratitude when she said: “the sport that has shaped so much of my life continues to bring unexpected and meaningful moments”.

In 2012, Roberts was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and fought her greatest battle bravely until the end.

Thoughts are with family and friends of a Dolphin open water pioneer, and Swimming Australia thanks you for your lifelong contribution.

VALE MELISSA ROBERTS

Dolphin: #453

Born: June 1974

Died: May 2026

Club: Sutherland