Sarah Marriott is a rower who was awarded a Tier 2 Scholarship within the 2025 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship & Mentoring Program.
Sarah Marriott commenced rowing in 2019 at St Catherine’s School, Melbourne. As a junior, Sarah rowed in bow seat of the Division 2 Quad to a silver medal at the 2019 Head of School Girls (HOSG) Regatta. Her first season of rowing was filled with highs and lows as Sarah learnt how to manage her Type One Diabetes in training.
In 2019-2020, Sarah stroked the Intermediate Division 1 Quad to mixed success. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 Pandemic saw the 2020 HOSG Regatta cancelled.
In 2020, Covid-19 lockdowns saw Sarah focus on her off-water training leading to her achieving numerous Australian C2 Ergo Records and one World Ergo Record, of which some still hold to this day.
In 2021, Sarah’s 6-seat of the First VIII crew was undefeated over the season including Victorian State Champions and HOSG – the first HOSG Division 1 title for her school in 42 years. Sarah then went on to be selected as stroke of the Australian Junior Coxed Eight but unable to compete overseas due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
In 2022, Sarah retained 6-seat of the First VIII. This crew was undefeated over the season including back-to-back HOSG titles and the National title at the Australia Rowing Championships (ARC). The crew travelled to the Henley Royal Regatta in the UK winning the Prince Philip Challenge Trophy. Marriott also represented Australia at the 2022 World Indoor Rowing Championships (held virtually) where she achieved 4th place in the U19 2000m event.
2023 was a stellar racing season with Melbourne University Boat Club. Moving straight to U23 events Sarah was undefeated in U23 Women’s Pair, Four and Eight including titles at the ARC held in Perth. Sarah was 6-seat in the Victorian Youth Eight earning silver at the ARC. In July, Sarah stroked the Australian U23 Coxless Four to Bronze at the U23 World Championships, Plovdiv, Bulgaria. In September, Sarah stroked the Australian Women’s Coxed Eight to two gold medals at the Head of the Shanghai River Regatta in Shanghai, China. October saw Sarah invited to join Rowing Australia’s High Performance Program at the Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre (NTC) in Penrith – at 18 years of age, making her the youngest member of Rowing Australia’s High Performance Programs.
In 2024, Sarah rowed in Senior boats and events at ARC as well as retaining 6-seat in the Victorian Youth Eight earning silver. In March, Sarah unfortunately missed the Paris 2024 Olympic Team but continued to train at the NTC until May. As part of the newly formed Australia A Squad, Sarah doubled up in the Women’s Coxless Four and Coxed Eight at World Cup I in Varese, Italy. In August, Sarah will row in the Australian U23 Women’s Coxed Eight at the 2024 U23 World Championships in St Catharine’s, Canada.
In September, Sarah will commence studying at Stanford University, California.
As a Type One Diabetic, Sarah uses her sporting experience to inspire others and prove that even though she has diabetes, diabetes doesn’t stop her! Sarah looks forward to continuing to develop her rowing career in conjunction with achieving her undergraduate degree at Stanford University, and ultimately represent Australia at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games!
“I am both humbled and thrilled to be part of the 2025 SAHOF Scholarship & Mentoring Program. After missing 2024 Olympic selection, I am more determined than ever heading into the LA 2028 Olympiad and SAHOF’s support will assist me to make it happen. It will be invaluable to learn from experienced elite athletes on how I can improve myself as an athlete both on and off the water. I am so grateful for this opportunity to be inspired by other scholarship athletes and for the financial support.” – Sarah Marriott on being selected as a 2025 Scholarship Holder
Honours & Achievements
- 2024: 7th & 8th – Women’s Coxless Four and Women’s Coxed 8, World Rowing Cup 1 – Varese, Italy
- 2023: 3rd – Women’s Coxless Four, World Rowing Under 23 Championships – Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- 2023: 1st – Women’s Coxed 8 (Australian Representative), Head of Shanghai River Regatta – Shanghai, China
- 2023: 1st – Women’s U23 Pair, Coxless Four & Coxed Eight, Australian Rowing Championships
- 2022: 1st – Prince Philip Challenge Trophy, Henley Royal Regatta – Henley-on-Thames, UK
Social Links | Instagram: sarahmarriott
