Melissa Cunningham

An inspiring ambassador for the McGrath Foundation, open water swimmer and world champion Melissa Cunningham spoke with us about her life achievements and overcoming her greatest challenges.

Born in Cronulla on the surf coast south of Sydney, Melissa Cunningham was no stranger to water. As a child she knew she wanted to be a swimmer and one day represent Australia. The eldest of three children, Cunningham describes swimming as a regular part of family life, spending much time in the water with her two younger brothers. "We would always muck around in the backyard pool after training" she recalls.

Cunningham was first introduced to open water swimming in 1991 when, as a 16 year old, she swam the 8km stretch from Magnetic Island to Townsville in North Queensland, in a shark cage. The following year, after disappointing results in the pool at the 1992 Olympic Trials, Cunningham's coach saw promise in her ability for longer distances and suggested she tried the 25 kilometre race at a competitive level.

Cunningham?s immediate response was 'no way, who would be stupid to swim that far!' But having beaten then

current open water champion in several pool events, the conversation planted the seed in Cunningham?s head and in 1993 she competed at her first open water event. It was the 1993 Pan Pacific Championships Trials held in Perth?s Swan River and she recalls the start, "About 2km into the event I got stung by white jellyfish and another brown jelly fish attached itself to my face". Cunningham finished second and earned her place on her first Australian Team.

Three years after completing her first open water swim, Cunningham went on to win the 25km event at the 1994 World Swimming Championships in Rome. That same year, she was selected as the Female Open Water Swimmer of the Year by Swimming World Magazine. Her swimming successes continued throughout the 90s, competing in open water events both internationally and at home in Australia, including participating in a record-setting 19 hour 11 minute relay from Malta to Italy.

Cunningham loved the open water and said she was never fearful of the creatures or elements she encountered. "Open water is an uncontrollable environment, and when you?re racing you don?t think about those things. Swimming in the pool always felt too controlling".

Cunningham views her greatest triumph as her ability to bounce back. "I might get knocked down but I always get back up again", she says, reflecting on the many challenges she has faced in both her career and personal life. Injuring her shoulder 13 days out from selection trials in 1996, Cunningham raced with a partially dislocated shoulder, having to stop to push her shoulder back in during the event. A year later, Cunningham suffered a debilitating fatigue virus that would last for eight months. "These all made me tougher and stronger" she says.

When Cunningham?s shoulder injury prevented her from returning to competitive swimming, she shifted her career to commentating and organising events, thriving in her new roles on dry land. "After I finished swimming I was asked to join the Australian Open Water Committee which led to being elected to the FINA Athletes Commission and Technical Open Water Swimming Committee. I was then nominated to commentate at the Beijing Olympics for the first 10km open water event which made me extremely proud".  With a long and diverse career, Cunningham has contributed to every stage of open water swimming; as a competitor, commentator, organiser and official.  Early this year her outstanding achievements were acknowledged on the global stage with an induction into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, where she also received the 2014 Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award.

Away from the public eye, in 2012 Cunningham was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at just 37. She endured chemotherapy, a mastectomy and radiation therapy as part of her treatment. "It took a long time for the fatigue to go and for me to feel healthy? she says. ?I?m still waiting for my hair to grow back". As she neared the end of her treatment, she decided she wanted to help others in their experiences of breast cancer and became a McGrath Foundation Friend. "They do an amazing job providing breast care nurses to help families affected with breast cancer." The McGrath Foundation also has a strong connection to sport, and was the right fit for Cunningham to organise the swimming relay fundraiser, Every Stroke Counts.  Now in its second year, the event raises money towards breast cancer awareness and support for families experiencing breast cancer. With the event expanding since its launch last year, Cunningham?s vision is for the relay to run in swim centres around Australia in the  future.

Now in remission from breast cancer, Cunningham is committed to continuing great work with the McGrath Foundation and helping others along the way. She feels incredibly grateful for the people around her. "I have had so many people help me in different stages of my life. I feel incredibly lucky that I can help others achieve their dreams" she says.  Amongst all her amazing achievements, Cunningham describes marrying partner Adrian as her proudest moment. "I married a wonderful man... I was lucky to not only have him enter my life but also his two wonderful boys. I'm proud of our family."

Funkita has produced limited edition Every Stroke Counts One Pieces to support the McGrath Foundation and Melissa's event. For more information visit: www.mcgrathfoundation.com