Tasmanian rower Ella Marshall is hoping her meteoric career path will continue on the sport’s highest stage.
Just a year after inquiring whether she may be eligible for Para sport, the 26-year-old will compete at her maiden world championships undaunted by how swiftly the opportunity has arrived.
“I wouldn’t change it,” she said. “I think the fast-paced environment has meant that I’ve been able to embrace every opportunity without overthinking it.”
Next Wednesday (August 26), Marshall and South Australian crewmate Sam Stunell will contest the PR3 mixed double scull heats at the world titles in Amsterdam.
“I feel honoured to have been selected,” she added. “A lot of work has gone into this moment and I’m excited to compete in my first world championships.”
Last September, Burnie-born Marshall, who had competed in lightweight able-bodied categories for Devonport's Mersey Rowing Club plus St Brendan Shaw College and Hobart's St Michael's Collegiate, contacted the Tasmanian Institute of Sport’s Para Unit and soon earned an invitation to a Rowing Australia Para development camp. This was followed by selection trials which resulted in her being inducted into the National Training Centre.
Diagnosed at the age of four with an aggressive brain tumour which left her with part-paralysis on her right side, Marshall was classified as PR3 - a category for athletes with impaired leg and/or arm function.
After trials in Australia and Italy, she teamed up with Stunell, of Adelaide Rowing Club, under coach Christine MacLaren and won bronze in the PR3 mixed double scull at June’s World Cup III in Lucerne, Switzerland, which led to their world champs selection.
Christine MacLaren presenting Ella Marshall with her Australian World Championship uniform
“The domestic trials period was tough,” reflected Marshall, who now represents Melbourne’s Banks Rowing Club. “I am glad that Sam and I were able to come out of it with a good performance.
“World Cup III was a great experience, we put down a performance we were proud of. Naturally, we were able to come away with learnings which we have been able to work on going forward into Amsterdam.
“Fostering a good and workable crew dynamic is really important in any boat. Para crews are unique in the way that it is both male and female - I think that can add another complexity within the rowing stroke. I think Christine, Sam and I have done a really good job in being able to create a positive crew dynamic.”
Later this week, the 57-strong Rowsellas team will leave the European Training Centre in Italy and head to The Netherlands for training on the Bosbaan course.
“For the race, it’s about putting down a performance and a race profile that we are proud of,” Marshall said. “We want to be able to end the season on a high note and carry the learnings into next season.”
The TIS Para Unit scholarship holder is the only Tasmanian on the senior team and one of eight debutants who will earn a numbered McVilly-Pearce Pin for representing Australia at elite level (world championships or Olympic, Paralympic or Commonwealth Games).
She said it feels “truly amazing” to be flying the flag for her home state.
“I’ll be forever grateful to the rowing community in Tasmania and the TIS/Para Unit for all their ongoing support. In future years it would be great to see more Tasmanians make the team.
“We will receive our McVilly-Pearce Pin on the Sunday at the conclusion of the world champs. It’ll be like the final piece of the puzzle to finish my first international racing season. No doubt it will be very special indeed.”
Marshall will have plenty of family cheering her on in The Netherlands and thanked all those who supported her rowing career from her dad (and previous coach), Greg, to Rowing Australia’s patron, Gina Rinehart.
“I wouldn’t have been able to fully focus on my training and performance on the world stage without her generous backing,” she added. “Her support has made a dream come true.
“My dad was able to help me get to a point where I was good enough as a Para athlete to be invited to trials - I will be forever grateful for that.
“My family is coming to Amsterdam. I’m very lucky to have them there, it’ll be really special for them to be at my first world championships.”