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AOC announces four coastal rowers as first members of 2023 ANOC World Beach Games Team

 

AOC announces four coastal rowers as first members of 2023 ANOC World Beach Games Team

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AOC
Elizabeth Newell and Morgan Hodgson - Coastal Rowing

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has announced the first four athletes to represent Australia at the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) World Beach Games to be held in Bali in August 2023, which will see more than 1400 athletes from 100 nations compete across 13 disciplines.

Elizabeth Newell, Ellen Pozzi, Marcus Della Marta and Morgan Hodgson have been selected to represent Australia in Coastal Rowing – Beach Sprints, which sees competitors race by foot on sand to their boats, race through open water around two buoys before heading back to the beach finish line.

Elizabeth and Marcus will compete in the women’s and men’s solo events respectively, with Ellen and Morgan pairing up for the mixed double event.

The Australian Team will also compete in Beach Handball, with the men’s and women’s handball teams due to be selected in the coming weeks.

AOC CEO Matt Carroll said the Beach Games was a great opportunity for Australian athletes.

“Congratulations to our first four athletes selected for the ANOC World Beach Games,” Mr Carroll said.

“This event gives Australian athletes another stage to compete and develop their skills in a multi-sport international environment.

“With Coastal Rowing growing in popularity around the world and being considered for inclusion on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic programme, this is a fantastic opportunity for Australian rowers to test themselves against the world.”

Dual Olympian Sarah Cook, Rowing Australia Chief Operating Officer and member of World Rowing's Coastal Rowing Commission welcomed the rowers’ selection.

“Rowing Australia is excited to see Coastal Rowing - Beach Sprints featuring at the World Beach Games in beautiful Bali, and we congratulate our four athletes on their selection and wish them all the very best for their preparations," Ms Cook said.

"We know Elizabeth, Ellen, Marcus and Morgan will wear the Green and Gold with pride. Our community will have the chance to watch them compete and can even have a go at Coastal Rowing themselves at the upcoming Australian Coastal Rowing & Beach Sprint Championships in Mooloolaba at the end of July. It will be a fantastic opportunity to experience Coastal Rowing and see why this is a discipline and format that is on the rise."

Coastal Rowing is also on the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games sports programme.

The quartet has experience on the international stage, with Elizabeth, Marcus and Morgan all competing at the 2022 Commonwealth Rowing Association Beach Sprint Championships in Namibia, while Ellen and Marcus have both previously rowed for Australia at the U23 Rowing World Championships before transitioning to Coastal Rowing.

Twenty-three-year-old Elizabeth Newell was thrilled to represent Australia at Coastal Rowing’s first appearance at the ANOC World Beach Games.

“Representing Australia is a great honour, and to be a member of the first ever Beach Sprint Rowing team to compete at the World Beach Games is very exciting,” Newell said.

“Competing in an event like this allows me to further develop my skills and knowledge of the sport which I can take into the future.”

The Bundaberg-raised rower, now based in Brisbane, only took up Coastal Rowing in 2022 after her coach suggested she transfer her skills from the still to the open water, winning four gold medals at her first Australian Coastal and Beach Sprint Championships last year.

“Beach Sprints are fast and action-packed making racing very exciting. It is a great sport for both spectators and competitors, and it would be great to see it included in both Commonwealth and Olympic Games!”

The ANOC World Beach Games will run from 5-12 August, with Coastal Rowing held from 10-11 August.

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