Ellie-Kate Hutchinson Becomes Double World Champion
Stateside Success and ACC Glory Ellie-Kate’s relentless progression earned her a scholarship to Syracuse University in New York, where she’s now entering her third year. There, she is studying entrepreneurship, emerging studies, and real estate at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, while simultaneously chasing Olympic aspirations as part of the elite collegiate rowing scene in the U.S. She made an immediate impact. As a freshman in 2023, she was selected for the Varsity 8, the top-tier crew at Syracuse. Rowing in the demanding four- seat, known for its power output, Hutchinson helped lead the boat to a first-place finish at the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championships, earning the title of ACC Crew of the Year. Just weeks later, they placed eighth at the NCAA finals — the best finish in program history — and made a landmark appearance at the Henley Royal Regatta in England. “She was right in the mix with some of the most experienced rowers we’ve had,” said SU Head Coach Luke McGee. “It didn’t seem like the moment was too big for her in any way.” Her performances were so impressive that she was named ACC Newcomer of the Year, an accolade that took even Ellie-Kate by surprise.
“I didn’t even know it was an award!” she laughed. “To be recognised like that in my first year, it meant the world.” Following in Golden Footsteps Hot on the heels of Hannah Scott’s Olympic glory in the women’s quadruple sculls team in Paris 2024, Hutchinson appears to be following a remarkably similar trajectory. Like Scott, she honed her craft with Bann Rowing Club, impressed on the international junior and under-23 stage, and is now firmly in contention for a future spot in Team GB’s senior squad. The comparisons are inevitable - and exciting. “It’s inspiring to see what Hannah has achieved,” Hutchinson said. “She’s a local hero and has paved the way. If I can follow that path and one day make it to the Olympics, it would be a dream come true.” Driven by Family, Fuelled by Home Despite her growing international profile, Hutchinson remains
institutions. “It all started on the Bann,” she says. “The club, the community, my family - they’ve shaped who I am.” Her achievements haven’t gone unnoticed locally either. In early 2024, Ellie-Kate was named Sportswoman of the Year at the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Sports Awards, a nod to her continued excellence both at home and abroad. The Road Ahead With world titles and university accolades already in her trophy cabinet, Hutchinson’s eyes are now firmly fixed on the Olympic Games, a long-term goal that feels increasingly within reach. “There’s still so much I want to achieve,” she said. “This is just the beginning.” And if her career so far is anything to go by, it won’t be long before Ellie-Kate Hutchinson is once again standing on a podium, flag raised, gold medal around her neck, and Bann Rowing Club never far from her heart.
deeply rooted in her heritage. She credits much of her early development to the support of her parents, Andrew and Louise, and the training she received at Bann Rowing Club, one of Ireland’s most respected rowing
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