Former Bunbury reporter off to Rio

Former South Western Times reporter Steve Butler will rub shoulders with the best athletes in the world next month, when he reports on the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Butler, who worked at theTimes for 10 years, flies out for Brazil on Sunday, where he will work as part of the Seven West Media team covering the 31st Olympiad.

The chance to see the likes of US basketballer Kevin Durant and the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, live has Butler excited.

“When you are a sports head like I am, you cannot help but get seduced by it,” he said.

“I feel very humbled and privileged to cover an event of this magnitude for the paper.”

Butler said he was looking forward to watching the team sports at this year’s Games and rated some of Australia’s a good chance to win a gold medal.

Butler said he had met a lot of different athletes over the past year in the lead-up to the Games, but one stood out above the rest.

“My favourite is a floor boarder from West Perth, Ferenc Szekszardi, who is rowing in the C2 event,” he said.

“He is rowing with someone who was named Mr Bulgaria 1993 in Martin Marinov.

“This is what makes the Olympics beautiful – could you imagine a weirder team.”

Butler admitted the time he spent at theTimes had helped him in his long career.

“I am very grateful for the grounding I had at theSouth Western Times over the 10 years,” he said.

“I have no doubt it was a solid foundation for what I have accomplished.”