While living on campus at the University of Sydney, a student suggested to Jo Burnand that she become involved in rowing – small and bossy, they thought she was perfectly suited to the role of coxswain.
Jo joined the university rowing team and quickly developed a true passion for the sport. She made her Australian team debut in 1986 and was awarded an Australian Institute of Sport scholarship the following year.
Having put her career on hold to have a family, Jo returned to rowing in 2004 when she represented New South Wales at the Queens Cup.
A friend of two-time Paralympic cyclist Lindy Howell, Jo says she was honoured when Australian Para-rowing head coach Gordon Marcks asked her to be coxswain of their mixed coxed four team.
She combined with Brock Ingram, Davinia Lefroy, Jeremy McGrath and Kathleen Murdoch to win the 2016 Final Paralympic Qualification Regatta in Gavirate, Italy, qualifying Australia’s first ever boat in that class at a Paralympic Games.
Placing fourth in their heat and third in their repechage heat, the Australian team won their final to place sixth overall at Rio 2016.
Jo’s husband, 1984 Olympic rowing bronze medallist Craig Muller understands the commitment required to compete at an elite level and trains with her at Mosman Rowing Club.
Outside of training and competition, Jo enjoys spending time with her children, attending their sports games, bushwalking and camping.
With bachelor degrees in social work and medicine and a master’s in public health, Jo hopes to still be working in the medical field in 10 years’ time.
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