FULL-CIRCLE MOMENT
SHE’S OUT OF THE POOL AND CALLING THE SHOTS! ‘I never imagined I would see myself in this position’
Ellie Cole has never been afraid of trying new things. So when the champion Paralympian was asked to, not only call the 2024 Olympics in Paris, but also lead Channel Nine’s Paralympics coverage, her answer was an easy ‘yes’.
“I’m really excited,” Ellie, 32, tells New Idea ahead of this week’s Opening Ceremony. “It’s going to be the most comprehensive broadcast of the Paralympics ever in Australia.”
A hit with audiences in Paris thanks to her informed and respectful poolside interviews with our athletes, the ex-swimmer was clearly in her element as she lapped up all the action.
Personally, Ellie was thrilled to witness firsthand the “showdown of the century” between Katie Ledecky, Ariarne Titmus and Summer Mcintosh, and to see her 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games roommate Kaylee Mckeown smash even more records in the pool.
“Loved being able to do poolside interviews!” she told fans on social media. “Best. Week. Ever. A very surreal experience being on the other side. So proud of all of them.”
Of course, the toughest aspect of being part of Nine’s Olympics commentary team was being separated from her partner, Silvia Scognamiglio, and their adorable sixmonth-old son, Felix.
Fortunately, they will have no such issues during the Paralympics, as Ellie is hosting from Nine’s studios in Sydney. Her new position with Channel Nine means so much to Ellie – especially when it comes to the visibility of Paralympic athletes in the media.
Knowing “we have a home Games in Brisbane in 2032” assured her that this is a “really good time” for Paralympians.
Ellie believes the Paralympics are “really going to take off ” after the huge success of the Paris Olympics, which were watched by billions globally. As a result, the “excitement is going to build for Brisbane”.
Having grown up “idolising” the “golden generation” of swimming and being inspired by them to want to join the Australian swim team, Ellie shares that this is truly a full-circle moment for her.
She tells us she first “fell in love” with the Olympics after they were hosted by Sydney in 2000.
“I never imagined that I would see myself in this position because I just love sports so much,” she tells us. “When you’re hosting, you’re watching it with the rest of the country and your reactions are so genuine and filled with so much passion and excitement. For the World Swimming Champs last year, I was literally running around the studio for Mollie O’callaghan’s 200m freestyle. It was amazing!
“I’ll have to remind myself that I’m hosting and to keep my cool a little bit!”
By Jodie Wolf