The Junior World Rowing Championships kicks off next month in Rio. Ella Toa, a Te Atiawa and Maniapoto descendant, is preparing for the event.
Toa says, “Every morning you don't want to get up, you just have that in your mind you just push through it and you know it's all going to be worth it in the end.”
Toa is preparing for the World Rowing Championships in Rio next month.
“It's going to be amazing, not many people can be like, oh I have raced on the Olympic course, and seeing Rio, knowing you have already been there, raced that,” she says.
She is competing in the junior women's coxless fours event, and for the past five weeks her crew has been combining their styles.
Toa says, “Yeah its real different trying to, like everyone's techniques always going to be a bit different, but it's just getting the motion together and making it flow, has been very good.”
This 17-year-old was handpicked from the country's best.
Coach John O'Connor says, “She has been identified by New Zealand Rowing, there is only a small portion of athletes that get through to this level. I think there were 2000 who competed in the Marty Cup, she has the results.”
Despite the challenges, she has taken the opportunity with both hands.
“It's been so challenging being cold, coldest winter New Zealand has had in a while. But just having the end goal in the end,” says Toa.
On July 31, she flies out to the World Rowing Championships.