Rowe taking to international stage

Otago Daily Times

29-05-2025

Ella Rowe is competing at the Torian Pro in Brisbane this weekend. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH
Ella Rowe is used to doing the heavy lifting.
She will need to draw on all of her strength in her latest challenge at the Torian Pro — labelled as Oceania's premier CrossFit event — in Brisbane this weekend.
The Bayfield High School athlete completed four online workouts earlier this year and needed to be in the top eight in Oceania in her grade to qualify for the competition.
The 17-year-old made the cut and is the only Kiwi selected in the 16-17 years division.
"I'm really excited," Rowe said.
"I haven't actually gone to an international competition before. It'll be a really cool experience."
Rowe will compete across three days — starting today — and complete two gruelling workouts each day.
It will be a whole new experience for the up and coming lifter, but one she is very much looking forward to with her family and coach Ben Thompson by her side.
"I have no idea what to expect. I'm just looking forward to the chance to compete."
Rowe started lifting after calling it quits after 11 years as a competitive gymnast.
The former Otago representative went out on a high, representing New Zealand in a tour team to Hawaii before walking away at the start of 2023.
Her gymnastics coach suggested Rowe give CrossFit and weightlifting a go, so she headed along to Southern Peak CrossFit gym and never looked back.
She linked up with Thompson, who had been a big support system for her.
"He's very motivational and he can get me up early in the morning to train.
"He's really good with people. We have a teens class at CrossFit and it's grown so much, but I think mainly people go because they like the people."
That is one of the key reasons Rowe has stayed involved.
"I love the people — that's my first thought. They're so supportive and cool.
"I just like being strong. Some of my friends have started and they're like 'I'm going to be strong like you one day'."
Rowe has further weightlifting competitions on her horizon. She qualified for the national weightlifting championships in the senior division later this year and will also compete at the New Zealand secondary school weightlifting championships, where she won a national title last year.
She has also helped start a small weightlifting club at Bayfield with more students getting into the sport.