New Zealand Women’s Four... (L to R) Phoebe Spoors, Ella Cossill, Jackie Gowler and Davina Waddy during a 2023 World Cup regatta in Switzerland Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand rower Ella Cossill admits she wouldn't be where she is now if she hadn't gone to the United States to row.
Cossill is the new member of New Zealand women's four that will line-up at the world championships in Serbia next week.
The 24 year has just completed five years on a rowing scholarship at the University of Washington.
Just weeks after graduating she earned herself a New Zealand elite trial and was then named in the four alongside seasoned campaigners Jackie Gowler, Phoebe Spoors and Davina Waddy.
Cossill, who was also a top swimmer as a teenager, knew she'd done everything possible to gain selection.
She was a part of the New Zealand development squad last summer and got the chance to race with the other three members of the crew at various regattas.
"Just being in the mix with them really helped me click with them and showed the selectors I was getting faster.
"And to go to Nationals with Phoebe and have a solid race before I returned to the States, helped."
Cossill returned to Seattle to complete the last ten weeks of her studies before flying back to New Zealand for the trials.
The selectors obviously liked what they saw and were searching for athletes to fill some of the seats in boats.
"It's pretty awesome to row alongside the people who I have looked up to and admired for years now.
"It's been a big learning curve in the best way possible knowing that these girls have the most experience and just being able to pick their brains.
"Also realising that they're all just normal people and they're not as crazy or insane in terms of their approach to things... they're just normal cool people.... it kind of humanises the elite athlete experience."
However she admits at first she really had to work hard to get up to their speed both mentally and physically.
"I knew it would be tough to start because I was coming into their world from college, because it's just so different to the elite level.
"But as time has gone on I've got more comfortable and confident in myself.
"They've also been really good to me as I ask them really silly questions that to them are probably novice level but they're great at keeping everything simple and not overwhelming me with too much information."
New Zealand rower Ella Cossill Photo: Supplied / Rowing NZ
Cossill has no doubt that going through the US College system is a good option for young rowers.
"I don't think I'd be rowing at all if I hadn't gone to the States.
"Rowing is a long term sport, the average age of the best performers at the Olympics is quite old.
"So I don't think there's any rush to get into the elite level because there are so many other opportunities in things like college that you can do first."
Coincidentally Spoors also attended the University of Washington and graduated in 2017.
"It sets you up well to transition into the national team and I'm really glad that I didn't rush into it because I've got to have these really awesome memories and met some amazing people," said Cossill.
"I've come into the team feeling really fresh and don't feel I'll burn out for a long long time.
"I know rowing is a long game and qualifying the boat at World Champs is just step one and then making it back into the boat for Paris is the next challenge, so there are always going to be more markers along the way."
The women's four of Gowler, Spoors, Waddy and Cossill finished fifth at the third World Cup regatta in Lucerne in July.
They need a top seven finish at the world champs to gain an Olympic spot for New Zealand.
New Zealand has 32 rowers competing across 12 classes at the world champs which run from 3-10 September in Belgrade.
-RNZ