As an elated Ella Ramsay chatted with reporters after qualifying for her second Olympic event at Australia’s swimming trials on Friday night, another athlete who’d just swum in the same race was bawling her eyes out only 20 metres away.
It put into a glaring perspective the ruthless nature of the trials, where there are many stories of unbridled joy but also many stories of utter devastation.
The athlete crying inconsolably on Friday night, in a dim area beside a warm-up pool, was Abbey Harkin.
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The 26-year-old, a student of renowned coach Dean Boxall at Brisbane club St Peters Western, was being consoled by three people.
Ariarne Titmus, the two-time Olympic gold medallist and St Peters Western’s highest-profile star, was one of the three huddled around the shattered swimmer.
Abbey Harkin competing at the Australian Paris 2024 swimming trials on Friday night. Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
Harkin contested the 200m breaststroke at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and has been a member of many other Australian teams.
At this year’s world championships in Doha, she teamed up with Shayna Jack, Brianna Throssell and Iona Anderson to win gold in the 4x100m medley relay. At last year’s world championships in Fukuoka, she combined with Emma McKeon, Kaylee McKeown and Mollie O’Callaghan to win silver in the same event.
But on Friday night, her hopes of competing at the Paris Games were crushed.
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She took her final shot at landing on the Dolphins team, having fallen short in the 200m individual medley on Monday and the 100m breaststroke on Tuesday.
In the 200m breaststroke final at Brisbane Aquatic Centre, she touched the wall fourth. She also fell short of Swimming Australia’s Olympic qualification time of 2:23.91, finishing in 2:26.01.
Two spots were on offer but only Ramsay did enough, finishing with gusto and stopping the clock at 2:23.91.
Ella Ramsay at the trials. Quinn Rooney/Getty Images
Her dad is Heath Ramsay, who swam the 200m butterfly at the Sydney 2000 Olympics.
Ramsay’s qualification in the 200m breaststroke on Friday night followed her qualification in the 200m individual medley on Monday night.
The Brisbane athlete, whose 20th birthday falls two weeks before the Paris Games, will race the final of the 400m individual medley, her pet event, on Saturday night.
Her dad has been cheering her on in the trials crowd.
“He was really proud [after the 200m individual medley],” the rising star said.
“We had a little bit of a tear, just because I was relieved that everything was working in the right direction. I was really proud of myself.”
Heath Ramsay in action at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. Mark Dadswell/Getty Images
Ramsay is coached by Vince Raleigh at Brisbane’s Chandler Swimming Club, but her dad taught her how to swim and was her coach for many years.
“I wanted to make him proud at this meet. He’s one of my biggest supporters, and I wanted to come out here and swim fast and show him that everything he’s put into me is working out,” she said.
Her dad finished 11th in the 200m butterfly at the 2000 Olympics.
In Paris in just over a month’s time, she will be trying to better his result.
“Me and my dad are quite competitive so I’ve always wanted to beat him.”
She was asked if anything was riding on her results in France.
“Just bragging rights,” she said with a laugh.
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