Johanna Griggs
Encyclopedia
Johanna Leigh Griggs (born 17 October 1973) is a former swimmer and current television presenter from Australia
.
in 1990—winning a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke event.
In winning the 50-metre backstroke race at the Australian Swimming Championships in 1993, Griggs recorded the fastest time in the world (that year) for the event. The day following that swim, she announced her retirement from competitive swimming.
Her career was cut short after a battle with chronic fatigue syndrome
that began when she was 17. She had previously attempted a comeback in 1992, however the exertion of that comeback hospitalised her with pleurisy
, and ultimately caused her to withdraw from the 1992 Olympic trials.
. As part of the programme, sporting guests were asked to donate various body parts to the "Sporting Hall of Fame". Griggs donated her appendix.
Griggs built a solid career in media and was a regular panelist on Network Ten
program, Beauty and the Beast
. At this time she was also dating rugby league footballer Luke Ricketson
.
She later joined Seven Network
. At Seven, Griggs has hosted Auction Squad and House Calls to the Rescue and participated in the Australian Open
coverage, and was the first Australian woman to solely host an Olympics' coverage when she covered the 2002 Winter Olympics
in Salt Lake City
.
From 2001 to 2006, Griggs also hosted Australia's longest-running sports program, Sportsworld
with Matthew White on a Sunday morning and presented home show Auction Squad for two years.
In 2005, she replaced Noni Hazlehurst as host of the long running program Better Homes and Gardens.
In 2009, after previously acting as a fill-in presenter for Seven News Sydney weekend sports bulletin, she took on the role full-time. Replacing Alex Cullen
who moved to the weeknight role. In November 2010, Griggs resigned from Seven News Sydney to spend more time with her family.
Griggs covers several sporting events for Seven Sport
.
, has two sons, Jesse and Joe.
On 25 November 2006, Griggs married building foreman Todd Huggins (33) in a private ceremony at their home in Collaroy Plateau, Sydney.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Swimming career
Griggs represented Australia at the Auckland Commonwealth Games1990 Commonwealth Games
The 1990 Commonwealth Games were held in Auckland, New Zealand from 24 January-3 February 1990. It was the 14th Commonwealth Games, and part of New Zealand's 1990 sesquicentennial celebrations. Participants competed in ten sports: athletics, aquatics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, judo,...
in 1990—winning a bronze medal in the 100m backstroke event.
In winning the 50-metre backstroke race at the Australian Swimming Championships in 1993, Griggs recorded the fastest time in the world (that year) for the event. The day following that swim, she announced her retirement from competitive swimming.
Her career was cut short after a battle with chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is the most common name used to designate a significantly debilitating medical disorder or group of disorders generally defined by persistent fatigue accompanied by other specific symptoms for a minimum of six months, not due to ongoing exertion, not substantially...
that began when she was 17. She had previously attempted a comeback in 1992, however the exertion of that comeback hospitalised her with pleurisy
Pleurisy
Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs. Among other things, infections are the most common cause of pleurisy....
, and ultimately caused her to withdraw from the 1992 Olympic trials.
Television career
Griggs was the first guest on the long-running ABC programme Live and SweatyLive and Sweaty
Live and Sweaty was an Australian sports television program, broadcast on the ABC from 1991 until 1995. Hosted by Andrew Denton , the show was part panel-based, part talk show and part comedy, and predated The Footy Show which has a similar format.-Live and Sweaty regulars:Andrew Denton was the...
. As part of the programme, sporting guests were asked to donate various body parts to the "Sporting Hall of Fame". Griggs donated her appendix.
Griggs built a solid career in media and was a regular panelist on Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
program, Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast (talk show)
Beauty and the Beast is an Australian panel television show that has appeared in numerous versions since the early days of Australian television. The first version began in 1963 on the Seven Network with host Eric Baume as the "Beast". Baume was later replaced by presenters including John Laws,...
. At this time she was also dating rugby league footballer Luke Ricketson
Luke Ricketson
Luke Ricketson is an Australian retired professional rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s. An Australian and Ireland international, and New South Wales State of Origin representative back-rower, he played his entire club football career for the Sydney Roosters of the NRL...
.
She later joined Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
. At Seven, Griggs has hosted Auction Squad and House Calls to the Rescue and participated in the Australian Open
Australian Open
The Australian Open is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament held in the southern hemisphere. The tournament was held for the first time in 1905 and was last contested on grass in 1987. Since 1972 the Australian Open has been held in Melbourne, Victoria. In 1988, the tournament became a hard court...
coverage, and was the first Australian woman to solely host an Olympics' coverage when she covered the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
.
From 2001 to 2006, Griggs also hosted Australia's longest-running sports program, Sportsworld
Sportsworld
Sportsworld was an Australian Sunday morning sports information program shown on Seven Network. The program was broadcast from 9.00am - 11.00am following Weekend Sunrise on a Sunday morning, from Seven's Martin Place streetfront studios in Sydney....
with Matthew White on a Sunday morning and presented home show Auction Squad for two years.
In 2005, she replaced Noni Hazlehurst as host of the long running program Better Homes and Gardens.
In 2009, after previously acting as a fill-in presenter for Seven News Sydney weekend sports bulletin, she took on the role full-time. Replacing Alex Cullen
Alex Cullen
Alexander Shaun Cullen is a politician in Ontario, Canada. He is a former Member of Provincial Parliament in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and a former member of Ottawa City Council, representing the Bay Ward in Ottawa's west end.-Early life and city politics:Cullen was born February 18,...
who moved to the weeknight role. In November 2010, Griggs resigned from Seven News Sydney to spend more time with her family.
Griggs covers several sporting events for Seven Sport
Seven Sport
Seven Sport is the brand that all sporting events broadcast on the Seven Network are broadcast under.-History:The Seven Network is a major player in Australian sports broadcasting. Before 1999, Seven telecasted all matches of the Australian Football League. However, in 2000 Nine and pay TV provider...
.
Personal life
Griggs, who was previously married to actor Gary SweetGary Sweet
Gary Sweet is an Australian film and television actor known for his roles in Alexandra's Project , Police Rescue, Cody, Big Sky, The Battlers, Bodyline and Stingers....
, has two sons, Jesse and Joe.
On 25 November 2006, Griggs married building foreman Todd Huggins (33) in a private ceremony at their home in Collaroy Plateau, Sydney.