Monday Sport Blast From The Past
When Toni Jeffs retired from competitive swimming in 2007, a Stuff journalist boldly predicted she would not be forgotten.
"So, while Jeffs will be left watching the Commonwealth Games team from her living room this year, there is little doubt one of New Zealand swimming's most colourful characters will not be forgotten from sporting history."
Never one to shy away from controversy, Jeffs was arguably best known for being sponsored by a strip club at the Barcelona Olympics.
Jeffs won two Commonwealth bronze medals and was 27th at the Olympics.
At a time when many top swimmers stopped competing in their early 20s, Jeffs was notable for her long career in the pool.
In 2003 Jeffs won a legal battle against the New Zealand Olympic Committee, who admitted a selection blunder had cost her a place in the Olympic team.
The year before, at the Manchester Commonwealth Games, she regained her New Zealand title and won bronze in the 50m freestyle.
In 2007, she hinted that she would take up Masters swimming and refused to rule out a comeback. At that time, she was living on a lifestyle block in the Wairarapa.
Despite the prediction that she would not be forgotten, she has been out of the limelight in the years since.
Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
🎉 2026 is almost here!
We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?
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10.4% Yes! New Year, New Me
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20.1% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
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69.5% Nah - not for me
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