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Olivia to row for nation

Thursday 1 May, 2008 12:01am

OLIVIA Heath had no idea she would be competing in the Junior World Rowing Championships when she decided to give the sport a go two years ago.

Now the 16-year-old Mosman resident will be flying to Austria in July to represent Australia in the under-19 women's four competition.

Olivia, a student at Pymble Ladies College, was persuaded to try rowing instead of tennis by a friend when she was in year 9. She has never looked back.

She was first noticed by national selectors after she won a gold medal rowing in a double scull at Nationals in March.

She was invited to try out for the NSW squad, and her career has taken off since then.

"It all happened really quickly," she said.

At the Australian selection trials she stunned everyone when her two-girl team beat the National Championship winners of the previous year.

The talent of the two teams came together and the girls rowed their way to victory in the under-19s race as a four.

They beat the national champions from Canberra and secured their ticket to the Junior World Championships.

Olivia's mother Linda said her daughter's success in such a short time was made even more significant due to the fact that last year no women's teams from the NSW under-19 division were selected to compete in the event.

According to Mrs Heath, teams are not generally selected to attend the international event if their chances of winning a medal are low.

Olivia is currently attending three training sessions per day at Sydney Rowing Club. She is on the water twice a morning and does weight training in the afternoon.

Despite her heavy training sessions, she still manages to keep on top of her school work.

"Pymble have an elite sports program. My school work is sent to me when I'm not there," she said.

Olivia will train in Czechoslovakia for two weeks before arriving in Austria on July 22 to compete at the Junior World Rowing Championships.