- Stroke Seat in the 8+
Personal Statement
Hi! I am Ava Mulholland and I am a rower from Australia.
When growing up I heard my dad, who still rows at 54, and my older brother who rowed at his school always talking about rowing. I never understood what they were talking about or why would someone even want to wake up that early. Although I have always loved sport and played a variety of sports before discovering rowing, it didn't take me long to fall in love with rowing and I even learned to love the early wake- ups. Now that I've experienced rowing for three years, my views have definitely changed as there is nothing like being in a boat with your crew.
This sport attracts people who are dedicated, prepared to make sacrifices, and have an unshakeable will to put in hard work to perform in rowing and to succeed in their academics. I can say that I have all three of these characteristics and so does the typical rower, but as a leader of one of the largest girls rowing shed in Australia, I have found an extra push to strive for not only the best results on the water and in the gym but also in creating a high level of healthy competitiveness and a positive community within a shed. This has been recognised by my teachers and coaches as I have the privilege of being my school's rowing captain in 2024.
Rowing is described as the ultimate team sport- the ability for a crew to act as one in a boat and on land- is one of the most attractive things to me about rowing. To have the opportunity to do this in a college environment where I can combine my love of rowing and learning is incredibly exciting.
