Gotcha! Former Olympic sprinter turned TV identity Matt Shirvington stuns his colleagues and viewers with brilliant April Fools prank ahead of the Paris Olympics

In one of the great April Fools' pranks, Sunrise anchor Matt Shirvington sensationally announced on Monday morning he was 'coming out of retirement' to compete in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

His stunned co-hosts Natalie Barr and Edwina Bartholomew were left blindsided by the news, only for Shirvington, 45, to eventually reveal it was a wind up.

Moments earlier the TV presenter, a former Australian Olympic sprinter who retired from the track 15 years ago, tricked his colleagues into believing he was making a 'big comeback'.

'Before we move on, I've got a little bit of news. I have requested a bit of time off. I wanted to let you guys know,' Shirvington began, capturing the attention of his co-stars.

He went on to say he was contacted by Craig Pickering and Andrew Murphy - both renowned athletics coaches - who convinced him to 'come out of retirement'.

'I said 'yes'. So I'm going to take a bit of time off for the Paris Olympic Games. My preparations started a couple weeks ago.

'I don't know if you've noticed, but I've definitely trimmed down, gotten a little faster.

'From here on in, it really is all guns blazing as I prepare for another Olympic Games.' 

Co-host Barr appeared completely stunned by the announcement as she subtly glanced to the camera crew for confirmation.

'This is very exciting. This is very very exciting,' she said, as she attempted to take the shocking news in her stride.

Shirvington kept the joke going for a moment longer, turning to the crew to ask, 'Can you live without me for a couple weeks?'

As Barr and Bartholomew said they would happily hold down the fort, Shirvington shouted: 'April Fools everybody!'

Barr and Bartholomew could then only laugh as the crew began applauding Shirvington's ruse.

'I couldn't roll down the track right now, let alone that,' he said, before apologising to 'all the amazing sprinters we've got in this country'.

'To think they would actually have to ask me to come out of retirement to be part of the team,' he added.

Bartholomew hit back with a brutal comment, saying: 'I don't think they were worried for very long.'