Ipswich’s own Ella Ramsay has sealed her ticket to the Paris Olympics next month after winning both the women’s 400m individual medley (4:36.56), and 200m breaststroke (2:22.87) at the Australian Swimming Trials in Brisbane last week.
“It’s still pretty surreal!” she said.
“It hasn’t really sunk in quite yet. I’m really happy with how the week went and I was happy to qualify on the first night.
“It took a lot of the pressure off leading into the next few days.”
Speaking with Local Ipswich News three years after our first chat, Ramsay said she was thrilled with her recent success, and to be joining her father Heath, a Sydney 2000 Olympian, as part of an Australian Olympic team.
“I’m really proud of myself on making the team,” she said.
“Last year was hard with sickness, going through glandular and tonsillitis.
“…but it’s probably been the biggest blessing in disguise because it’s really driven me to another level this year.”
Training under Vince Raleigh at Chandler had also helped a lot as he is an outstanding breaststroke coach and has former world record- holder Zac Stubblety-Cook in his stable.
“Training alongside him has also pushed me to new levels with my breaststroke.”
With Ella qualifying for the Paris Games, the Ramsays now join the McKeons (Ron 1980, 1984 and Emma McKeon 2016, 2020) and the Nays (Robbie 1972 and Meagen 2008, 2012) as father-daughters to swim for Australia at an Olympics.
“It’s great to have someone like that (father Heath) in your corner, just to talk to,” Ramsay said.
“He’s a great role model, but also a great support, not only in a coach-daughter relationship, but also just as father and daughter.
“He’s gone through it before, so he knows all the ups and downs, but also all the learning processes and motivations and how to prepare.”
Ramsay has enjoyed an outstanding season in the pool – finishing second twice to Kaylee McKeown in the 200m and 400m individual medleys at the Australian Open Championships on the Gold Coast in May – clocking personal best times of 2:10.71 (sixth fastest all-time Australian) and 4:36.94 (seventh fastest all-time Australian) respectively.
She will be the first to admit that the past two years have really helped with her growth in and out of the pool – now joining a Dolphins team that blends experience and youth.
“I was probably a bit immature, young, and naive during the 2022 Worlds and Commonwealth Games,” she said. “I can look back on it now and see it was a great experience.
“I feel coming into the Paris Games, I’m more mature and ready to learn and absorb everything from all the amazing swimmers around me.”
Within the coming fortnight, Ramsay will depart for France for the staging camp in Canet before moving on to Chartres and then into the village.
After the Games wrap up, Ramsay said her plans were for some much-needed rest and reflection, before returning to the pool.
“My friend and I are going to Greece, just to holiday and reward ourselves after the Games,” she said.
“I’m not stopping my career here though. I want to go above and beyond.”
