Olympic Gold Medallist and Girlfriend Leave Gold Coast Training Base
Olympic gold medallist Zac Stubblety-Cook and his Australian representative girlfriend Ella Ramsay have left their Gold Coast training base following a falling out with respected swimming coach Mel Marshall. Stubblety-Cook, who won gold in the men’s 200m breaststroke at the Tokyo Olympics, had reportedly been clashing with Marshall for some time over differing philosophies regarding the operation of the Griffith University Swim Club program.
This move comes as part of a broader trend, with several elite swimmers having left Marshall’s squad since her arrival in early 2025 from the UK to lead the Gold Coast program. Her role included mentoring Stubblety-Cook, who relocated from Brisbane early last year.
Stubblety-Cook and Ramsay have now joined the Nunawading Swimming Club in Melbourne on an interim basis, with financial assistance provided by the Queensland Academy of Sport. The decision has sparked interest within the swimming community, as it highlights the challenges athletes face in finding the right training environment.
Swimming Australia provided a brief statement regarding the move, but did not elaborate on the reasons behind the decision. The statement read:
“Griffith University Swim Club is currently implementing a realignment ahead of the green and gold runway into LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032. This realignment has seen Zac Stubblety-Cook and Ella Ramsay depart Swimming Australia’s Griffith University’s high-performance hub and they are now training at Nunawading’s performance program.”
Dolphins coach Rohan Taylor commented on the situation, stating: “There are multiple high-performance environments throughout the country and we encourage our athletes to find the right environment that suits them. Additionally, we support our HPEs, like Griffith University and their globally recognised head coach Mel Marshall shaping that environment.”
Stubblety-Cook and Ramsay will be competing at Australia’s swimming trials from June 8 to 13, which serve as selection for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and Pan Pacific Championships in California later this year.
Key Points of the Move
- Zac Stubblety-Cook and Ella Ramsay have left the Gold Coast training base due to conflicts with coach Mel Marshall.
- The decision follows a period of tension over differing approaches to the Griffith University Swim Club program.
- Other elite swimmers have also left Marshall’s squad since her arrival in 2025.
- The pair have now joined the Nunawading Swimming Club in Melbourne, supported financially by the Queensland Academy of Sport.
- Swimming Australia confirmed the realignment of the Griffith University Swim Club as part of preparations for future events.
- Coach Rohan Taylor emphasized the importance of finding the right training environment for athletes.
Future Prospects
As Stubblety-Cook and Ramsay prepare for the upcoming swimming trials, their new training environment in Melbourne may play a crucial role in their performance. The Nunawading Swimming Club is known for its strong support system and competitive atmosphere, which could benefit both athletes as they aim to secure spots in international competitions.
The move also raises questions about the future of the Griffith University Swim Club and how it will adapt to the changes in its high-performance hub. With the focus on the LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 events, the club will need to ensure it continues to provide top-tier training for its athletes.
For now, the swimming community will be watching closely to see how Stubblety-Cook and Ramsay perform in the trials and what impact their new training environment will have on their careers.
