Rowing: Mold prospect Thomas Marshall to row for Team GB in Australian Youth Olympic Festival

Jan 10 2013 by Alec Doyle, Flintshire Chronicle

MOLD rower Thomas Marshall sacrificed a lot for his sporting ambitions in 2012 – and as a new year dawns it seems to be paying off.

He has been selected for the Team GB rowing squad at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival.

The 18-year-old moved to Germany last year to step up his training in order to earn a place on the British team for the Festival and potentially a spot in the national under-23 squad.

Marshall, a member of Royal Chester Rowing Club, enjoyed a fruitful 2012 as he won bronze as part of the British men’s eight at the World Junior Championships in Plovdiv.

And he is fully focused on delivering once again for Britain at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in just over a week.

“I am really looking forward to it now,” said Marshall. “It is a great opportunity to spend two or three weeks in Australia, competing at a high level and getting some sun which will be fantastic.

“I took a gap year to row seriously and step up my training in order to be here and I was always going to aim for the British under 23 trials.

“When this came up I jumped at the opportunity because I knew I could train for it in the short term which would help me.

“It is very pleasing that it worked out for the best. I have been living in Germany rowing for their national team so I can improve my rowing while also learning the language.

“It is very different and difficult to adjust to the bulk of training. You feel so much more powerful and fitter. I am just over there for a year though and am learning a lot but I am British and I row for Britain.”

Marshall added: “All through your rowing career you are looking up to the senior British athletes and when you put that vest on it gets you thinking about the future and seeing what you have achieved so far.”

The British Olympic Association prepares and leads British athletes at the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. It works in partnership with sport’s national governing bodies to enhance Olympic success and is responsible for championing the Olympic values. www.olympics.org.uk