Young Ella-Rose Duval, a top athlete and brilliant student, spontaneously cites the name of soccer player and doctor Laurent Duvernay-Tardif as inspiration when she projects herself into the future.
“I lean towards medicine, I always wanted to be a cardiologist, but it remains difficult to combine the two,” says the 17-year-old athlete from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, referring to sport and studies.
In Ella-Rose’s case, it is rowing that takes her to Italy this week, where she will take part in the U19 beach sprint final from Friday.
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Aside from this crazy desire to taste good pasta, the young athlete says she is “excited and nervous” for this experience on Italian soil, more specifically in the coastal town of Barletta. She will then be the only Quebecer in this sea rowing competition.
“The goal is to gain experience at the international level, but I’m also a very competitive girl,” she says bluntly. I want to make a name for myself, I’m aiming for the podium. »
- Listen to the interview with Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, doctor and former American football player, on Alexandre Dubé’s show about QUB radio :
At the 2028 Olympics?
Montreal Rowing Club member Ella-Rose Duval was able to take advantage of Aviron Lachine’s sponsorship to prepare for the weekend’s big competition.
If she continues to excel in clear water rowing, the athlete does not hide the fact that the rise of lake rowing could take her to the highest peaks. The International Olympic Committee is also considering including this discipline in the program for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Regardless of developments on the matter, Ella-Rose Duval has already set her sights on these Los Angeles Games as a goal to achieve. Johannaise is now finishing her 12th year of study in the hope of soon receiving a scholarship to an American university and making the jump to the NCAA.
Future ambassador
In Italy, the Quebecer will take part in the women’s under-19 solo competition as well as the under-19 mixed doubles with Ontario’s John Liu.
Beyond her own development, Ella-Rose Duval reveals her desire to one day become an ambassador for her sport and one day inspire younger people. It’s hard not to see the influence of Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who recently retired from football and is committed to social causes through a foundation in his name.