{"id":643706,"date":"2026-05-22T18:20:54","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T01:20:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=643706"},"modified":"2026-05-22T19:01:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T02:01:31","slug":"passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/","title":{"rendered":"Passages: Australian World Champion Open Water Swimmer Melissa Cunningham, 51"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Passages: Australian World Champion Open Water Swimmer Melissa Cunningham, 51<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">September 4, 1994 was <strong>Melissa Cunningham\u2019s<\/strong> day to shine as this vibrant young Australian announced herself onto the marathon swimming stage \u2013 crowned the 25km World Champion in Rome.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was a stage Cunningham would continue to conquer in a decorated career both in an out of open water venues around the world, before embracing her greatest ever marathon challenge, her 14-year battle with breast cancer.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On May 21, 2026, Cunningham lost that brave battle at the age of 51, passing away peacefully in her sleep with her family, husband Adrian and her adopted marathon swimming family paying tributes to an extraordinary life.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The life of a fresh faced, happy-go-lucky largely unknown Australian swimmer, born in Sydney but who moved to Melbourne in 1993 to start what would be a life dedicated to the arduous and rewarding world of open water marathon swimming.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/category\/open-water\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Open Water Swimming News<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discovered and nurtured by renown coach, 1960 British Olympic swimmer, <strong>Dick Campion<\/strong> who with wife <strong>Jackie Campion<\/strong>, steered Melissa to a celebrated career as one of the world\u2019s greatest ever marathon swimmers.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_643716\" style=\"width: 553px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-643716\" data-attachment-id=\"643716\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/mel-cunningham-crowned-worlkd-champion\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MEL-CUNNINGHAM-CROWNED-WORLKD-CHAMPION.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"433,627\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"MEL CUNNINGHAM CROWNED WORLKD CHAMPION\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;MEL CUNNINGHAM CROWNED WORLD CHAMPION, Photo Courtesy Family Collection&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MEL-CUNNINGHAM-CROWNED-WORLKD-CHAMPION-433x500.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MEL-CUNNINGHAM-CROWNED-WORLKD-CHAMPION.jpeg\" class=\" wp-image-643716\" src=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MEL-CUNNINGHAM-CROWNED-WORLKD-CHAMPION-433x500.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"543\" height=\"627\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-643716\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Melissa Cunningham on top, of the podium, in 1994. Photo Courtesy Family Collection.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As tough as a they come, Roberts\u2019 first ever open water swim started inside a shark cage for the 8km stretch between Townsville to Magnetic Island \u2013 12 months before her World Championship debut in Italy.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She knew the waters off the Italian Coast oh so well; she had made her debut some 12 months earlier when she finished second behind legendary Australian teammate <strong>Shelley Taylor-Smith<\/strong> at the 1993 Pan Pacific Championships \u2013 used as a test event for the 1994 World\u2019s.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With Campion urging her on from his support boat, the Australian flag flapping in the breeze, the Sydney-born Cunningham powered her way through a flotilla of boats which lined the Italian coastline between San Felice Circeo\u00a0and\u00a0Terracina.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A mecca for Italy\u2019s sun-loving public who would flock to the beaches and rocky outlets along the Riviera di Ulisse every summer.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But on this day, in the September of \u201994, there were hundreds more people who waded into the waters off Terracina to greet swimmers from 13 nations as they completed their the 25km journey from the shores of San Felice Circeo, some 100km from Rome.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A sea of people forming a human chain to celebrate the extraordinary feats of the best open water swimmers in the world \u2013 and Cunningham lapped it up.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_643711\" style=\"width: 812px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-643711\" data-attachment-id=\"643711\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/terracinas-crowd-1994\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/TERRACINAS-CROWD-1994.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"2040,1361\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"TERRACINA CROWD 1994\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;TERRACINA CROWD 1994 World Open water Photo Courtesy Swimming Australia&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/TERRACINAS-CROWD-1994-700x500.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/TERRACINAS-CROWD-1994-1024x683.jpeg\" class=\" wp-image-643711\" src=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/TERRACINAS-CROWD-1994-700x500.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"802\" height=\"573\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-643711\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">CROWDED HOUSE: The crowd that greeted Melissa Cunningham and her support boat in Terracina in 1994. Photo Courtesy Family Collection.<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After 5 hours 48 minutes and 25.04 seconds, it was Cunningham who emerged from the water having swum away from the field that included her high-profile teammate Taylor-Smith, arguably the world\u2019s greatest female marathon swimmer who had won the inaugural official World Championship in her home waters in Perth in 1991.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But this was Cunningham\u2019s day. Conquering a choppy, wind-whipped Tyrrhenian Sea that turned the 25km race into a battle of survival.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It heralded the arrival of a new world champion who finished well ahead of <strong>Rita Kov\u00e1cs<\/strong> of Hungary (5:50:13.76) and Taylor-Smith (5:53:12.82).<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And a memorable day for Australia with Cunningham and Taylor-Smith combining with Men\u2019s individual 25km silver medallist <strong>David Bates<\/strong> and <strong>David O\u2019Brien<\/strong> to win the first Teams event, based on combined times.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cunningham never forgetting the impact that the Campions had on her career.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_643712\" style=\"width: 757px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-643712\" data-attachment-id=\"643712\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/516242411_10163440656057812_7631553247440756216_n\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/516242411_10163440656057812_7631553247440756216_n.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"664,462\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Dick Campion World Open water 1994 7812_7631553247440756216_n\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Dick Campion World Open water 1994 Photo Courtesy Swimming Australia&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/516242411_10163440656057812_7631553247440756216_n.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/516242411_10163440656057812_7631553247440756216_n.jpg\" class=\" wp-image-643712\" src=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/516242411_10163440656057812_7631553247440756216_n.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"747\" height=\"520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/516242411_10163440656057812_7631553247440756216_n.jpg 664w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/516242411_10163440656057812_7631553247440756216_n-280x195.jpg 280w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/516242411_10163440656057812_7631553247440756216_n-300x209.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/516242411_10163440656057812_7631553247440756216_n-450x313.jpg 450w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/516242411_10163440656057812_7631553247440756216_n-533x371.jpg 533w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 747px) 100vw, 747px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-643712\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">SURGING: Dick Campion and his inspirational cadence as Melissa Cunningham surges towards her first world title in 1994. Photo Courtesy Family Collection.<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI\u2019m so lucky that I was introduced to my wonderful coach Dick Campion the year before the World Championships in Rome (a man) who was there with me through everything,\u201d Cunningham reflected when she recalled the day on its 30<sup>th<\/sup> anniversary in 2024.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cDick and his wife Jackie took me in and made me part of their family and I\u2019ll be forever grateful.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSwimming is often called an individual sport, but nothing I\u2019ve done has ever been achieved alone. I\u2019ve been incredibly lucky to have people who had guided, encouraged and believed in me\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She followed her 25km win at the 1994 FINA World Swimming Championships in Rome with the 1996 FINA World Championships in Switzerland and among her many achievements, she won the Victorian Open 25km event in 1996, 1997, and 1998.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_643713\" style=\"width: 737px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-643713\" data-attachment-id=\"643713\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/516736738_10163440656172812_2883873570120538839_n\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/516736738_10163440656172812_2883873570120538839_n.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"852,608\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Melissa Cunningham 1994 World Championships Rome\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/516736738_10163440656172812_2883873570120538839_n-700x500.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/516736738_10163440656172812_2883873570120538839_n.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-643713\" src=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/516736738_10163440656172812_2883873570120538839_n-700x500.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"727\" height=\"519\" srcset=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/516736738_10163440656172812_2883873570120538839_n-700x500.jpg 700w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/516736738_10163440656172812_2883873570120538839_n-280x200.jpg 280w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/516736738_10163440656172812_2883873570120538839_n-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/516736738_10163440656172812_2883873570120538839_n-450x321.jpg 450w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/516736738_10163440656172812_2883873570120538839_n-533x380.jpg 533w, https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/516736738_10163440656172812_2883873570120538839_n.jpg 852w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 727px) 100vw, 727px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-643713\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">ON HER WAY to TERRACINA: Melissa Cunningham on her way on Terracina and a world title. Photo Courtesy Family Collection.<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Her extensive accolades include being named <em>Swimming World Magazine\u2019s<\/em> Female Open Water Swimmer of the Year in 1994 and induction into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 2013.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cunningham received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2024 for her service to swimming and although she was in hospital and unable to attend the presentation ceremony.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mel recalling: \u201cThe organisers very kindly delivered it to me which was so lovely and I did get to share the experience with four special people, my coach Dick and his wife Jackie. Also John Van Wisse and Robert Butcher two of the toughest trainers who pushed me every day and made me tougher in every way. The sport has shaped so much of my life and continues to bring unexpected and meaningful moments\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Across her remarkable career, Cunningham contributed to the sport as a swimmer, commentator, administrator, official, lecturer and educator at the highest international level and in all roles she exemplified versatility, resilience and humility, leaving a lasting impact on the open water swimming community in Victoria and beyond.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She was recognised on Olympic Park\u2019s Path of Champions, also named Swimming Australia\u2019s Open Water Swimmer of the Year in 1994 and 1996.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_643714\" style=\"width: 741px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-643714\" data-attachment-id=\"643714\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/mel-and-dick-1994\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MEL-AND-DICK-1994.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"2048,1416\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"MEL AND DICK 1994\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;MEL AND DICK 1994 Photo Courtesy Swimming Australia&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MEL-AND-DICK-1994-700x500.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MEL-AND-DICK-1994-1024x708.jpeg\" class=\" wp-image-643714\" src=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MEL-AND-DICK-1994-700x500.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"731\" height=\"522\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-643714\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">MEMORABLE MOMENT: Melissa Cunningham and Dick Campion in 1994. Photo Courtesy Family Collection.<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After retiring from elite swimming, Mel threw herself into giving back to the sport.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She helped found the Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, was a respected technical official, an administrator and served as an announcer at the first Olympic 10km marathon swimming event in Beijing 2008.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She was also the international Chief Commentator for open water swimming at the 2007 FINA World Championships in Melbourne.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2012, Roberts was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer and fought her greatest battle bravely until the end on May 21, 2026 with Melissa\u2019s husband Adrian delivering the heart-breaking news that his beloved Melissa had lost her brave fight.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cMel has lost her fight with cancer and passed away peacefully in her sleep early this morning. She will always be a multiple world champion, a devoted wife, loving sister, proud stepmother, inspiration and friend to so many.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cTo me Mel was beautiful and loving in so many ways and taught me so much as a person and a father during the time we shared together.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI know she inspired many others during her life and swimming career, and she carried the determination and strength from those days into every part of her life and in particular her fight with cancer over the past 14 years.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThose who knew her will remember her not only for her incredible achievements in the water, but for her kindness, determination and to the very end, the way she always put others first.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cHer loss leaves a space that can never truly be filled, but her legacy, both in sport and in life, will continue to ripple across the oceans with every stroke she takes and with everyone she met.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cRest peacefully Mel, thank you for being you, for the inspiration, the courage and the love you shared so generously. I am going to miss you so much, you are forever loved and will always have a place in my heart and I know one day we will go for a swim together once more.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_643715\" style=\"width: 767px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-643715\" data-attachment-id=\"643715\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/mel-cunninghamn-with-oam\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MEL-CUNNINGHAMN-WITH-OAM.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"1280,960\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"MEL CUNNINGHAMN WITH OAM\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;MEL CUNNINGHAMN WITH OAM Photo Courtesy Melissa Roberts Family Collection&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MEL-CUNNINGHAMN-WITH-OAM-700x500.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MEL-CUNNINGHAMN-WITH-OAM-1024x768.jpeg\" class=\" wp-image-643715\" src=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MEL-CUNNINGHAMN-WITH-OAM-700x500.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"757\" height=\"541\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-643715\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">ORDER OF AUSTRALIA: Melisa Cunningham with Dick and Jackie Campion and her OAM. Photo Courtesy Family Collection.<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>VALE:<\/strong> Melissa Roberts (nee Cunningham)<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Australian Dolphin:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.swimming.org.au\/articles\/vale-melissa-roberts-oam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#453<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Born:<\/strong> June 1974<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Died:<\/strong> May 2026<\/p>\n<p>*Ian Hanson covered the 1994 World Championships on a support vessel in Terracina as the Media Manager for the Australian Swim Team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Passages: Australian World Champion Open Water Swimmer Melissa Cunningham, 51 September 4, 1994 was Melissa Cunningham\u2019s day to shine as this vibrant young Australian announced herself onto the marathon swimming<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7938,"featured_media":643708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,62061,122075,11,10],"tags":[137895,137896,126461,133812,137893,53443,137894],"class_list":["post-643706","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-obituaries","category-oceania","category-open-water","category-world","tag-dick-campion","tag-jackie-campion","tag-john-van-wisse","tag-melissa-cunningham","tag-melissa-roberts","tag-rita-kovacs","tag-shelley-taylor-samith"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.3 (Yoast SEO v24.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\r\n<title>Passages: Australian World Champion Open Water Swimmer Melissa Cunningham, 51 - Swimming World<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Australian open water world champion Melissa Cunningham lost her battle with cancer on May 22 at the age of 51.\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Passages: Australian World Champion Open Water Swimmer Melissa Cunningham, 51\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Australian open water world champion Melissa Cunningham lost her battle with cancer on May 22 at the age of 51.\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Swimming World\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SwimmingWorld\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-05-23T01:20:54+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-05-23T02:01:31+00:00\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mel-cowned-world-champion.jpeg\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1951\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1312\" \/>\r\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ian Hanson - Oceania Correspondent\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@swimmingworld\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@swimmingworld\" \/>\r\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Ian Hanson - Oceania Correspondent\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Ian Hanson - Oceania Correspondent\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/8440dfbfa2c11516d012d826615532e6\"},\"headline\":\"Passages: Australian World Champion Open Water Swimmer Melissa Cunningham, 51\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-23T01:20:54+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-23T02:01:31+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/\"},\"wordCount\":1378,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mel-cowned-world-champion.jpeg\",\"keywords\":[\"Dick Campion\",\"Jackie Campion\",\"John Van Wisse\",\"Melissa Cunningham\",\"Melissa Roberts\",\"Rita Kovacs\",\"Shelley Taylor-SAmith\"],\"articleSection\":[\"-Home Slider\",\"Obituaries\",\"Oceania\",\"Open Water\",\"World\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/\",\"name\":\"Passages: Australian World Champion Open Water Swimmer Melissa Cunningham, 51 - Swimming World\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mel-cowned-world-champion.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-23T01:20:54+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-23T02:01:31+00:00\",\"description\":\"Australian open water world champion Melissa Cunningham lost her battle with cancer on May 22 at the age of 51.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mel-cowned-world-champion.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mel-cowned-world-champion.jpeg\",\"width\":1951,\"height\":1312,\"caption\":\"Mel Cunningham On top of the World. Photo Courtesy Swimming Australia\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Passages: Australian World Champion Open Water Swimmer Melissa Cunningham, 51\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/\",\"name\":\"Swimming World\",\"description\":\"The Global Leader in Aquatic News\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Swimming World\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/SWorld_BLKBKG-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/SWorld_BLKBKG-1.jpg\",\"width\":1799,\"height\":900,\"caption\":\"Swimming World\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SwimmingWorld\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/swimmingworld\",\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/swimmingworldmag\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/SwimmingWorldSPI\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/8440dfbfa2c11516d012d826615532e6\",\"name\":\"Ian Hanson - Oceania Correspondent\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/user-7938-100x100.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/user-7938-100x100.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Ian Hanson - Oceania Correspondent\"},\"description\":\"Ian is a former News Ltd. Australia Olympic and Swimming correspondent through the 1970s and 80s, who became the first Swimming Australia Media Manager in 1991 and spent the next three decades working with coaches Don Talbot, Leigh Nugent, Alan Thompson and Jacco Verhaeren on the Australian Dolphins Swim Teams. Has attended every Olympic Games since his debut in LA in 1984 and Tokyo 2020 will be Ian's 10th Olympics. Awarded an OAM in 2019 for his services to Australian sport and the media. Father of 2004 Olympic swimming gold and silver medallist Brooke Hanson.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/author\/ianhanson\/\"}]}<\/script>\r\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Passages: Australian World Champion Open Water Swimmer Melissa Cunningham, 51 - Swimming World","description":"Australian open water world champion Melissa Cunningham lost her battle with cancer on May 22 at the age of 51.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Passages: Australian World Champion Open Water Swimmer Melissa Cunningham, 51","og_description":"Australian open water world champion Melissa Cunningham lost her battle with cancer on May 22 at the age of 51.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/","og_site_name":"Swimming World","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SwimmingWorld","article_published_time":"2026-05-23T01:20:54+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-05-23T02:01:31+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1951,"height":1312,"url":"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mel-cowned-world-champion.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Ian Hanson - Oceania Correspondent","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@swimmingworld","twitter_site":"@swimmingworld","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Ian Hanson - Oceania Correspondent","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/"},"author":{"name":"Ian Hanson - Oceania Correspondent","@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/8440dfbfa2c11516d012d826615532e6"},"headline":"Passages: Australian World Champion Open Water Swimmer Melissa Cunningham, 51","datePublished":"2026-05-23T01:20:54+00:00","dateModified":"2026-05-23T02:01:31+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/"},"wordCount":1378,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mel-cowned-world-champion.jpeg","keywords":["Dick Campion","Jackie Campion","John Van Wisse","Melissa Cunningham","Melissa Roberts","Rita Kovacs","Shelley Taylor-SAmith"],"articleSection":["-Home Slider","Obituaries","Oceania","Open Water","World"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/","url":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/","name":"Passages: Australian World Champion Open Water Swimmer Melissa Cunningham, 51 - Swimming World","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mel-cowned-world-champion.jpeg","datePublished":"2026-05-23T01:20:54+00:00","dateModified":"2026-05-23T02:01:31+00:00","description":"Australian open water world champion Melissa Cunningham lost her battle with cancer on May 22 at the age of 51.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mel-cowned-world-champion.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mel-cowned-world-champion.jpeg","width":1951,"height":1312,"caption":"Mel Cunningham On top of the World. Photo Courtesy Swimming Australia"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/passages-australian-world-champion-open-water-swimmer-melissa-cunningham-age-51\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Passages: Australian World Champion Open Water Swimmer Melissa Cunningham, 51"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/","name":"Swimming World","description":"The Global Leader in Aquatic News","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#organization","name":"Swimming World","url":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/SWorld_BLKBKG-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/SWorld_BLKBKG-1.jpg","width":1799,"height":900,"caption":"Swimming World"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SwimmingWorld","https:\/\/x.com\/swimmingworld","https:\/\/instagram.com\/swimmingworldmag\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/SwimmingWorldSPI"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/8440dfbfa2c11516d012d826615532e6","name":"Ian Hanson - Oceania Correspondent","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/user-7938-100x100.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/user-7938-100x100.jpg","caption":"Ian Hanson - Oceania Correspondent"},"description":"Ian is a former News Ltd. Australia Olympic and Swimming correspondent through the 1970s and 80s, who became the first Swimming Australia Media Manager in 1991 and spent the next three decades working with coaches Don Talbot, Leigh Nugent, Alan Thompson and Jacco Verhaeren on the Australian Dolphins Swim Teams. Has attended every Olympic Games since his debut in LA in 1984 and Tokyo 2020 will be Ian's 10th Olympics. Awarded an OAM in 2019 for his services to Australian sport and the media. Father of 2004 Olympic swimming gold and silver medallist Brooke Hanson.","url":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/author\/ianhanson\/"}]}},"cc_featured_image_caption":{"caption_text":"ON TOP OF THE WORLD: Melissa Cunningham crowned world champion in 1994 in Rome. Photo Courtesy Family Collection.","source_text":"","source_url":""},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/vmrw8k5h.tinifycdn.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/mel-cowned-world-champion.jpeg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p56Jja-2Hsm","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/643706","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7938"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=643706"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/643706\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":643727,"href":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/643706\/revisions\/643727"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/643708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=643706"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=643706"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=643706"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}