Tasmanian rower Ella Marshall hopes a world championship bronze medal is just the beginning for her newly-formed crew.
Photo credit: Rowing Australia/Patrick Boere Photography
The 26-year-old, who only investigated whether she may be eligible for Para sport 11 months ago, capped a phenomenal year with a podium finish at her maiden world titles in The Netherlands.
Having also claimed a bronze medal with 19-year-old South Australian Sam Stunell in their first outing at World Cup III in Switzerland, Marshall believes there is a bright future for their PR3 mixed double scull crew.
“We’re a very new crew and I think this is just amazing where we are right now. We’re in a great position,” she said.
“Sam is so young and kudos to him for the work he’s put in this season. It’s been absolutely amazing and I think he is quite a commanding force in that stroke seat and it just makes it click.”
Having qualified second fastest from their heat, Marshall and Stunell shaved 41 seconds off their time to clock 7:12.56 in the final, sitting third throughout the race behind winners Germany (7:03.97) and runners-up Ukraine (7:09.28) but well clear of Brazil, China and Uzbekistan.
“I think we executed the race as well as we could,” Marshall said. “We really tried to push and keep with these guys but amazing credit to Germany and Ukraine, they are really strong.”
Photo credit: Rowing Australia/Patrick Boere Photography
The crews even had to sit out a rain delay on Amsterdam’s testing Bosbaan course.
“It’s always tricky, especially at this high level when there is such a delay,” Marshall added. “It was unexpected and we didn’t know the timeframe that the delay was going to be but credit to our support team, they were there for us. Kudos to Team Australia for helping us make a smooth transition in light of the difficult timeline.”
Stunell was also delighted with the crew’s early results.
“It’s been amazing,” he said. “Coming together at the start of the year, it was raw at first; but Ella has done a great job in being able to sit behind me and gel. It’s been great. We just hop in the boat and do what we do best.”
Diagnosed at the age of four with an aggressive brain tumour which left her with part-paralysis on her right side, Burnie-born Marshall competed in lightweight able-bodied categories for Devonport's Mersey Rowing Club plus St Brendan Shaw College and Hobart's St Michael's Collegiate.
In September last year she contacted the Tasmanian Institute of Sport’s Para Unit inquiring whether she may be eligible for Para sport.
With the support of Para Unit head Kirstie Turner and TIS rowing coach Nadia Bleaken, Marshall progressed quickly through the system, earning 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 in Canberra.
She was classified as PR3 - a category for athletes with impaired leg and/or arm function - and after trials in Australia and Italy, teamed up with Stunell, of Adelaide Rowing Club, under coach Christine MacLaren.
Now representing Melbourne’s Banks RC, Marshall is the only Tasmanian on the senior team and said it had been special to make her world championship debut with parents Greg and Lesley watching on.
“What’s made this worlds campaign extra special is that both of our families are here as well and it’s awesome,” she said. “Our families have put in countless hours in our rowing backgrounds and ultimately it’s got us here to the world stage.”
Photo credit: Rowing Australia/Patrick Boere Photography