- Jean Mitchell to row for Australia in Paris
- At the age of 16 she was diagnosed with a brain tumor
- Mitchell has opened up about her journey to the Olympics
Australian rower Jean Mitchell has overcome her brain tumor and fulfilled her dream of competing in the Olympic Games. She is already a winner.
The 24-year-old Victorian is one of four women in Paris hoping to equal the gold medal they won at the last Games in Tokyo.
It is a new team, with Mitchell joining fellow debutante Lily Alton, along with Olympia Aldersey and Molly Goodman, who are competing at the Olympics for the third time.
At 16, Mitchell underwent surgery to remove a tumor, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. She was unable to swim for two years before fighting back and being selected for Paris.
“It’s so incredible, I’m so excited to be here, I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time and I didn’t expect it to happen,” Mitchell said from the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, where she will compete for the first time on Sunday.
‘I’ve been working hard over the last few years and now I’m finally at a point where I’m fit, healthy and good enough to be in the team. And that’s where we are now.’
Mitchell had to start all over again and was on the rowing machine for only one minute when she returned to training.
She still has problems with her balance, hearing and fatigue. She needs MRI scans every six months to make sure the cancer hasn’t returned.
Jean Mitchell (center) has opened up about her journey from brain cancer to Paris
Mitchell (second from right) was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 16
But she didn’t expect her teammates to be treated differently.
‘I don’t want my path to be easier than others, because that makes me sad. I just want to keep going.’
Alton said Mitchell was an inspiration to their team, but not just because of her battle with cancer.
“Just hearing Jean’s story is incredibly inspiring, but it’s also a privilege to be able to row with someone who is just like her,” said Alton, from Queensland.
“The whole team loves her and everyone supports her and cares about her. I think she’s a huge asset to all of us. Not just to our boat, but to the whole team. We’re so lucky to have her.”
Alton, 25, sits across from Mitchell in the boat and says her crewmate was always encouraging her or joking around.
It will be a challenge to equal the gold medal from Tokyo.
Aldersey and Goodman bring experience, having been part of the women’s eight in Rio and Tokyo before moving up to the four.
But the new four won silver at the last World Cup in Poland, which was their first race together.
“Not everyone we compete against here was there, but I think it gave us a confidence boost,” said the 25-year-old Alton.
‘Everyone is incredibly competitive in this field, so all we can do is concentrate on sailing the boat as fast as possible and trying to have the best race together.’