I grew up in and around the ocean, before I was even age eligible for the U6s I was participating in the patrol run swim runs, running in and out of the water with a tube under my arm, Surf Life Saving wasn’t just an activity I joined, it was something I grew up in. The moment I became age‑eligible, I signed up without hesitation. Surf Life Saving has taught me resilience, discipline and that belief is all you need to succeed. I thrive on the challenge of pushing myself, whether that’s in the pool, the ocean, the lake or the soccer pitch. What drives me to succeed is the accomplishment you feel after a hard session, carnival or someone saying “I’m proud of you”. I know that the hard work and effort I put into training will pay off one day.
My journey within this sport hasn’t always been easy, but like every athlete there have been challenges that have not only tested my physical strength but my mental toughness. In the early months of the 23/24 surf season I was selected in the Central Coast Mariners Football Academy and I was ecstatic, juggling the training tested my patience and adaptability. Then the first game of the season arrived exactly 1 week before the NSW State Championships,
and about 50 minutes into the game BOOM I fractured my hip and this news was heartbreaking, during my State preparations I felt strong ready and results even showed all my hard work was paying off, but that went out the window for a sport that has never been a priority. This injury made me step away from training and competing right in a time I felt I was getting somewhere. Then I got the clearance to compete at Aussies. It had been 8 weeks since I’d even touched the water and I came in without an expectation in sight so making the
U14 board final and coming 7th was amazing! Overcoming injuries is never easy but it only made me hungrier.
I carried that hunger with me coming into the U15 age group I wanted to prove myself and did whatever a session threw at me with commitment and dedication, it was a season to remember and the comeback was successful. I earned myself my first ever individual State medal in the board, then Aussies came quicker than ever this season, and my main goal was to beat my U14 result and well that definitely happened. It was a day where a dream turned
into a reality getting 2nd in the board. Now in the U17 I’ve grown up using all my experiences as motivation, growing up around Umina Surf Club exposed me to Jemma Smith who after one chat became my role model and little Marli was amazed that small club girls can
achieve big things and that’s when my goal to becoming a professional ironwoman was set. My family and friends mean the most to me, they are my biggest supporters and have taught me that staying true to yourself will get you where you need to go and that one bad performance doesn’t define you as an athlete and I carry these values with me everywhere. My parents drive me all over Australia chasing the World Ocean Series to gain race experience and it’s been amazing although the 8hr drives from Umina to QLD never become fun.
I’m so excited to see where this journey continues to take me!
I wrote this before officially finishing my bottom-age U17 season, and what a season it turned out to be. It definitely brought its fair share of challenges and pushed me in ways I hadn’t experienced before. It tested my patience, grit, and resilience, especially after having the honour of captaining the Central Coast Interbranch Team, along with the bonus highlight of taking out the ski. Following these championships, I was more motivated than ever to put in
some solid training sessions and give myself the best possible shot at achieving my next goal winning the U19 Iron and earning a brand new custom Nemesis ski, generously supported by Recce, Sharon, and Hayden Smith. I had set some big goals for myself this season: a State medal and an Aussie final. I’m incredibly proud to say I exceeded those expectations, finishing 3rd at both the State Championships and the Australian Championships, and standing on the podium at both events as a bottom-age athlete. None of this would have been possible without the constant love, support, and encouragement from Reece, Sharon, and the entire BOS team. I’m so grateful to have such an amazing support network behind me.
