CEE swimmer Samantha Marshall wins a Silver Medal in 100m Breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi

Sam Marshall with Mum and Dad

Monday, 07 August 2010 21:51

Samantha Marshall joined coach Garner's squad as a 12 year old with the aim of winning the SCEGGS's Junior Swimming Title

Samantha showed some talent in Butterfly and was reasonable in the other strokes. When Sam was 13 years old she swam in a district carnival, where she went 1.27.2 for 100m Breastroke. It was her 1st try at 100m and the State qualifying time was 1.27.0. Later that season Samantha swam 1.20.03 to qualify for the Australian Age Championships as a 13year old. She came 9th in the final. Sam won her 1st National Age title at 15years, where she completed the 100m and 200m double. As a 15year old she placed 4th behind Leisel Jones in the 200m at the 2008 Olympic Trials. It was then that coach Garner realized that the 2010 Commonwealth was a very real possibility. Since then Sam has won the World Junior Championship and the Junior Pan Pacific Games in 100m breastroke.

Sam and Steve worked very hard for the 2 years leading up to the 2010 Commonwealth Trials. The result was 2nd behind Leisel Jones and a place on the Australian Dolphins Swimming Team headed for the Pan Pacs in USA, August 2010 and the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India October 2010. Hard work intelligently placed certainly has paid a BIG dividend.