Australian open water swimming legend Melissa Roberts passed away peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday morning at the age of 51 after a courageous 13-year battle with breast cancer. Her husband, Adrian Roberts, shared the heartbreaking news through her Facebook page, paying tribute to her legacy as a champion and mother. “As Melissa’s husband, I bring the heartbreaking news that Mel has lost her fight with cancer and passed away peacefully in her sleep early this morning. Mel will always be a multiple world champion, a devoted wife, loving sister, proud stepmother, inspiration and friend to so many,” the statement read.
Roberts was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2012 and had been living with metastatic cancer for the last seven years. In early 2026, she shared an update on Instagram revealing that she was in palliative care at a hospital. Despite her deteriorating condition, the 2026 Australia Day Awards organizers visited her in the hospital to personally deliver the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM), an honor she said reflected the sport that had shaped so much of her life. “The sport that has shaped so much of my life continues to bring unexpected and meaningful moments,” Roberts wrote in her final social media post.
Born on February 8, 1974, Melissa Roberts began her open water swimming career in 1991 at just 16 years old by covering an 8 km distance in a shark cage off Queensland, Australia. She trained under the guidance of Richard and Jackie Campion and quickly rose through the ranks of Australian open water swimming. Her international debut came in 1993 at the Pan Pacific Championships in Kobe, Japan, where she finished second in the women’s 25km open water marathon behind teammate Shelley Taylor-Smith. Just one year later, Roberts claimed the world title in the same event at the 1994 FINA World Championships in Rome, finishing nearly two minutes ahead of the runner-up.
In 1996, Roberts won the women’s 25km marathon at the FINA Long Distance Swimming World Cup, a grueling race from Lausanne, Switzerland, to Evian-les-Bains, France, despite competing with a partial shoulder dislocation. Her tenacity and strength in the water earned her the Swimming Australia Open Water Swimmer of the Year awards in 1994 and 1996. She also set a Guinness World Record for the most kilometers swum by a woman in a pool in 24 hours, covering 93 km—though the effort made her chlorine-allergic, a condition that affected her later training.
Roberts was inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 2013, and in 2020 she was instrumental in establishing the Australian Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame, where she was among the inaugural inductees. Two years later, she received the Dale Petranech Award for her services to the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame. Throughout her career, Roberts not only set records but also inspired countless young swimmers, particularly in Australia, where open water swimming has a passionate following.
The swimming world has mourned the loss of Roberts, with tributes pouring in from former teammates, coaches, and fans. She is survived by her husband Adrian, two stepsons, and a sister. Her legacy as a pioneer in marathon swimming and her indomitable spirit in the face of illness will long be remembered. Roberts’ career also included numerous appearances at FINA World Cup events and ocean swims around the world. She was known for her mental toughness and ability to push through pain, as evidenced by her performance with a dislocated shoulder.
In the years following her diagnosis, Roberts remained active in the swimming community, advocating for cancer awareness and supporting fundraising efforts. Her husband’s tribute highlighted her role as a devoted wife and proud stepmother, alongside her athletic achievements. The open water swimming community, which holds marathon swimmers in high esteem, has lost one of its brightest stars. Roberts’ story serves as a reminder of the resilience required to excel in endurance sports and the importance of cherishing every moment.
Source: MSN News