By Quinta Walsh-Cotton, Daily Mail Australia
00:40 01 April 2024, 00:44 01 April 2024 Updated
Sunrise anchor Matt “Silbo” Silvington announced Monday morning that he will be “coming out of retirement” to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Co-hosts Natalie Barr and Edwina Bartholomew were stunned by the news, but only Silbo, 45, revealed it was all an April Fool's joke.
The TV presenter, a former Olympic sprinter who retired from track and field more than 15 years ago, fooled his colleagues into believing he was making a big 'comeback'.
“Before we move on, I have a little announcement to make. I've been taking some time off. I wanted to let you all know,” Silbo began, gaining the attention of his co-stars.
He went on to say that he was contacted by prominent athletic coaches Craig Pickering and Andrew Murphy, who persuaded him to “come out of retirement.”
'Of course.' So I'm going to take some time off for the Paris Olympics. My preparations started a few weeks ago,'' he explained.
“I don't know if you've noticed, but I've definitely lost weight and gotten a little faster. From now on, I'll really be preparing as hard as I can for the next Olympics.”
At this point, co-host Natalie, 56, looked completely stunned by the announcement and glanced at the staff behind the camera for an answer.
“This is so exciting. This is so, so exciting,” Natalie said, trying to keep calm about the shocking news.
Silbo continued the joke a little longer, turning to the crew and asking, “Can you survive a few weeks without me?”
When Natalie and Edwina, 40, said they were happy to hold down the fort while they fled to the Olympic venue, Silbo shouted: “It's April Fool's Day, everyone!”
When the crew began applauding Silbo's ruse, Natalie and Edwina were stunned by the trick and could only laugh.
Silbo said, “I couldn't have rolled down the course right now, let alone do that,” and then apologized to “all the great sprinters we have in this country.”
“I didn't think they would actually have to ask me to come out of retirement to be part of the team,” he added.
Edwina hit back with a cruel comment: “I don't think they were worried for that long.”
