Paris 2024 Olympics: How third grade Randwick rugby prop transformed into rowing hopeful

It sounds like the far-fetched script for a Hollywood feel-good movie – how a third grade football prop dreamt of racing at the Paris Olympics. Except it really could happen.

Meet the suburban footy player who has transformed himself into an Olympic hopeful.

It’s sounds like a far-fetched script for a Hollywood feel-good movie – how a third grade rugby prop at a suburban club transformed himself into a Paris Olympic 2024 prospect.

Instead it’s the awesome background story of a young rower who grew up wanting to be a Wallaby but ended up playing for the famous Randwick rugby club as a weekend warrior while studying part time and working as a bar manager.

And now, after single sculler Marcus Della Marta impressed at the recent NSW titles and then national trials at Penrith last week, he’s been selected to race overseas with David Batholot for Australia in a bid to qualify a men’s double scull for Paris.

Now 33 kilos lighter than his days as a prop, Della Marta has come a long way since the former schoolboy rower and rugby player at Newington was asked if he wanted to come train again at UTS by an old coach back in 2019.

ROWERS TO WATCH AT NSW TITLES

Marcus Della Marta, left, is competing at the NSW championships this weekend. Picture: Supplied

“I didn’t quite fit in the boat,’’ Della Marta said.

“All the coaches wondered what they had got themselves into.

“I had to lose some kilos quickly to get in and then lost 25 in four months.’’

Along the way the Drummoyne rower gained a new desire to succeed and a passion for a sport he originally did just to keep fit for rugby.

Marcus Della Marta as a prop in club rugby for Randwick. Picture: Supplied

Marcus Della Marta playing for Randwick. Picture: Supplied

“When I was younger I was playing with players like (Wallaby) Angus Bell and (Waratah) Tane Edmed at the time,’’ he said.

“I started to row and was in the first eight but I was a bit podgy and not that good.’'

Hours of work on a rowing machine on his front lawn during Covid and a growing desire to be elite saw Della Marta eventually make an Australian under 23 quad team and now campaigning to be in the Australian sculling squad ahead of Paris Olympic trials.

“ I won a Rowing NSW small boats regatta which has given me a bit of confidence,’’ he said.

“It’s been a big four years, a long process to get here, but I am giving it everything.’’

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