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Sunrise host Matt ‘Shirvo’ Shirvington announced Monday morning that he will be “coming out of retirement” to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Her stunned co-hosts Natalie Barr and Edwina Bartholomew were shocked by the news, only for Shirvo, 45, to reveal it was all an April Fools’ Day prank.
The TV presenter, a former Olympic sprinter who retired from track more than 15 years ago, tricked his colleagues into believing he was making a big “comeback”.
‘Before we continue, I have some news. I’ve requested some time off. I wanted to let you know,” Shirvo began, catching the attention of his co-stars.
He went on to say that Craig Pickering and Andrew Murphy, both renowned athletic trainers, contacted him and convinced him to “come out of retirement.”
Sunrise presenter Matt ‘Shirvo’ Shirvington, 45, announced on Monday morning that he will be “coming out of retirement” to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Pictured (L) in Sunrise and (R) in 2002
‘I said yes. So I will take some time off for the Paris Olympics. My preparations started a couple of weeks ago,’ he explained.
‘I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’ve definitely cut less weight and gotten a little faster. From now on, everything will be fire as I prepare for another Olympic Games.”
At this point, co-presenter Natalie, 56, seemed completely stunned by the announcement as she subtly glanced at the team behind the cameras for answers.
Her stunned co-hosts Natalie Barr, 56 (left), and Edwina Bartholomew, 40, were shocked by the news, only for Shirvo to reveal it was all an April Fool’s Day prank.
‘This is very exciting. This is very, very exciting,” Natalie said, as she tried to take the shocking news in stride.
Shirvo continued the joke for a moment longer and turned to the team to ask, ‘Can you guys live without me for a couple of weeks?’
As Natalie and Edwina, 40, said they would gladly hold the fort while he raced to the Olympics, Shirvo shouted: “All the innocents!”
The TV presenter managed to fool his colleagues into believing he was “returning” to the sprint. In the photo, Natalie and Edwina.
Stunned by the trick, Natalie and Edwina could only laugh as the team began applauding Shirvo’s ruse.
“I couldn’t ride down the track right now, let alone that,” Shirvo said, before apologizing to “all the amazing sprinters we have in this country.”
“And to think they would have to ask me to come out of retirement to be part of the team,” he added.
Edwina responded with a brutal comment: “I don’t think they’ve been worried for a long time.”