MLC at the Olympics

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Reunions

MLC AT THE

In this Olympic year, we celebrate students reaching the pinnacle of their sport.

“My parents were ecstatic when I got my drivers licence,” laughs Lizzy Patrick (2002), coxswain of the Australian Women’s VIII rowing team at the Olympic Games in Beijing in 2008 and London in 2012.

Despite the early starts, Lizzy couldn’t wait to join the MLC Rowing program in Year 8. Like her sisters, Lizzy chose to be coxswain, a challenging and integral role suited to athletes with a specific skill set.

“A coxswain manages several complex tasks simultaneously,” explains Lizzy. “Steering, giving instructions and feedback, being the conjugate between coach and crew, managing crew dynamics and motivating the crew when they’re emotionally and physically fatigued.”

Lizzy’s journey to the ultimate sporting arena involved many years of hard work and unwavering determination. It was also a culmination of the enthusiastic support she received from her coaches, teachers, family and friends.

“Rowing at MLC was such a unique and incredible experience. The highlight was winning Head of School Girls as part of the Seniors Quad,” Lizzy recalls. Lizzy went on to steer national teams in prestigious international rowing competitions, with her crew winning gold at the 2005 World Rowing Championships. The next decade included two Olympic campaigns, her crew finishing sixth both times. In the lead up to Beijing, Lizzy held the Olympic torch for her crew as they rowed it across Lake Burley Griffin.

Susan Tegg-Quinn (1993) is also grateful for the support she received to realise her Olympic kayaking dream in Athens in 2004.

“You don’t do something like that yourself,” she insists. “Coaches, family, my employer – there’s a lot of support along the way.”

Susan paired up with Paula Harvey to compete in the K2 500m and the pair finished 15th.

“The energy at the Opening Ceremony was incredible. I felt so privileged to represent Australia,” she recalls. Susan set up the first MLC Kayaking team as part of her Year 11 English communications project. With the help of her father, who was a competitive kayaker, and the financial support of the MLC Parents’ Association, Susan entered a team of six students into the Red Cross Murray Marathon. Cementing her love of the sport, this experience inspired Susan to compete in sprint kayaking.

Training twice a day, working as a theatre nurse and studying audiology, Susan competed in state and domestic competitions before qualifying for the national team. Her tough schedule required focus and mental strength, two attributes she believes she developed during her time as a student at MLC.

“MLC exposes you to inspiring people who are leaders in their field,” she says. “It doesn’t matter whether its sport, art or business, you need to have a mind for where you want to go and critically evaluate your progress along the way.”

Two MLC alumnae are Deputy Chefs de Missions for upcoming Olympic Games: former fencer, Evelyn Halls (1989) for Tokyo 2021 and former aerial skier, Alisa CamplinWarner AM (1992) for Beijing 2022. More than 25 former MLC students have represented Australia at summer and winter Olympics and also at the Deaflympics, in diverse sports including swimming, aerial skiing, athletics, basketball, gymnastics and fencing.

Feature image: Lizzy Patrick (2002) as part of the Women’s VIII rowing team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Pictured above: Susan TeggQuinn competing at the 2004 Athens Olympics in the K2 500m kayaking.