Here at the Seniors Discount Club, we're incredibly proud of our wonderful Australian athletes and the incredible feats they've achieved representing our country.

Olympic gold medallists such as Leisel Jones, who rose to fame in the 2000 Olympics, and Susie O'Neill, who took home eight medals, bring Australia great honour and pride.

But last Wednesday, Channel Nine had a bit of an embarrassing moment when they confused the two famous swim stars while airing their news bulletin.

Leisel Jones, who now serves as a public speaker as well as a coach, was accidentally identified on-screen as Susie O'Neill, who's now a high-profile sporting ambassador.

Although Jones was interviewed by Channel Nine, O'Neill's name appeared in the programme. Credit: Instagram/leisel_jones (left), Instagram/susie_oneill1 (right).

We don't want to make the same mix-up as Channel Nine here, so let's take a moment to give Leisel and Susie the appreciation they deserve!

Leisel Jones competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, where she won a bronze medal in the 100m breaststroke and went on to win several more medals in international competitions.

Jones was also a member of the Australian swim team that won several world championship titles and is widely regarded as one of the best breaststroke swimmers in the history of the sport.

Leisel Jones received several notable awards and honours throughout her career, including:

- Order of Australia for service to sport in 2004

- World Swimmer of the Year in 2005 and 2006

- Australian Swimmer of the Year in 2006

- Inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2015

These awards and honours demonstrate the high level of recognition and respect that Jones has earned for her achievements in swimming and serve as a testament to her talent, dedication, and impact on the sport.

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Susie O'Neill is considered one of the greatest freestyle swimmers in history, having won eight Olympic and World Championship medals during her career. O'Neill was known for her versatility and competitiveness, competing in a wide range of events, from the 200m freestyle to the 200m butterfly.

She retired from competitive swimming in 2004, and since then has been involved in various roles within the sport, including as a television commentator and coach.

Just like Jones, O'Neill was a highly decorated swimmer and received several awards and honours for her achievements, including:

- World Trophy for Australasia in 1996

- Order of Australia Medal in 1997

- Female Athlete of the Year in 1998

- Australian Sports Medal in 2000

- Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductee in 2002

- Appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in 2018

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On the same day the gaffe happened, it was also reported that Channel Nine had signed a nine-year deal with the International Olympic Committee, worth a whopping $309 million, to bring the Olympic Games to television screens everywhere.

This move came after Channel Seven dropped out of the bid for broadcast rights in December.

Thanks to this exciting new deal, Nine will bring us the Paris Games in 2024, the Milan Games in 2026, the Los Angeles Games in 2028, and the Brisbane Games in 2032.

Meanwhile, Channel Seven will continue to cover the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing and the Tokyo 2020 Games, which they secured with a jaw-dropping $170 million payment to the International Olympic Committee.

Key Takeaways

• Channel Nine made an embarrassing on-air gaffe confusing two famous Australian athletes.
• Leisel Jones was accidentally identified on-screen as Susie O'Neill.
• Channel Nine also reported that they had acquired a nine-year, $309-million television and online rights contract with the International Olympic Committee.

Sports coverage is highly prized among commercial networks for its ability to captivate a massive audience. Credit: Facebook/Australian Olympic Team.

The Olympics have always been a highly prized event for commercial networks due to the huge audience it draws in.

Not only does the excitement surrounding the Olympics create a buzz in the sports world, but it also brings a flurry of economic activity to the host cities. From job creation to a boost in tourism, the Olympics can have a profound impact on local communities.

Furthermore, increased media exposure of Olympic sports has the potential to inspire a new generation of athletes and fans.

Whether you're a lifelong fan or a newcomer to the Olympic scene, mark your calendars for July 26th, 2024 – the Summer Olympics in Paris are just around the corner!

While it's understandable that this incident could have been just a slip-up, it does raise the question: how will Channel Nine handle the highly anticipated streaming of the Olympics?

We all want the Olympic experience to be nothing short of incredible. From the nail-biting moments to the heart-warming victories, it's a time when the world comes together to celebrate the achievements of the world's finest athletes.

So, with this in mind, do you think Channel Nine is up to the task of bringing the games to our screens in the best possible way?

Members, share your thoughts in the comments below! Let's get a discussion going and see what everyone thinks.

 

[JayKay]

Due to my hearing loss, I rely on the captions to read the texts. There are so many mistakes made, wrong names for people, misspelled words, wrong places listed…..it can be really very funny.
I guess everything is done in such a hurry, and live TV allows for no errors. So the public sees it all.
In the long run, no harm done!
Both these girls are high performing swimmers, not as if one is a criminal to be confused with.
Let’s forgive them, then…..this time.

 

[Vet543]

Due to my hearing loss, I rely on the captions to read the texts. There are so many mistakes made, wrong names for people, misspelled words, wrong places listed…..it can be really very funny.
I guess everything is done in such a hurry, and live TV allows for no errors. So the public sees it all.
In the long run, no harm done!
Both these girls are high performing swimmers, not as if one is a criminal to be confused with.
Let’s forgive them, then…..this time.

I am a captions only person and it is funny at time but other can be quite annoying ... when the person is obviously chatting on and NO CAPTIONS APPEARING. .. but I do know both swimmer and Liesel Jones was a favourite of mine and Susan O'Neill was such a sweet and loving type with the biggest smile. Having serious hearing loss would not have made any difference and I know both and the captions are always two or three sentences behind.. These girls were the modern day Dawn Fraser(s) and they did it without stealing flags or anything but by winning and credits.