Glossary of Rowing Terms
From the difference between a quad and a four, to ‘rigger jiggers’ and ‘rating’, get up to speed with common rowing terms
A Glossary of Rowing Terms
Symbols
x + - in boat type codes
x means sculling (2 blades per person). If there isn’t an x, it’s a sweep (1 blade per person) crew.
+ means coxed. If there isn’t a +, the boat is coxless. For sweep boats, – means coxless.
So a 4x+ is a coxed quadruple scull, and a 4x is a coxless quad. A 4+ is a coxed four and a 4- is a coxless four.
A
Adaptive Rowing
The term British Rowing uses for a type of rowing that can be done by anyone with a disability.
Aft
Towards the stern.
ARA
The Amateur Rowing Association – former name for British Rowing.
B
Back down
Reverse rowing used to manoeuvre the boat backwards or for turning.
Backstay
The back brace of a rigger that locks the pin in position.
Back stops
The position at which the rower sits with their legs straight and oar handle to their chest.
Blade
See Oar.
Button
See Collar.
Bow
1. The front of the boat. 2. Rower that sits in the seat position nearest the front of the boat.
Bow Ball
Ball shaped safety cap that sits over the bow end of the boat. Compulsory on all rowing boats for safety of other water users.
Bow Loader
A boat where the cox sits at the front (bow) of the boat.
Burst
A small number of strokes (usually less than a minute) taken at full pressure in training.
C
Canvas
The covered section at the bow and stern of the boat. Often used as a description of how much a race was won or lost by.
Catch
The moment at which the spoon of the oar is immersed in the water and foot pressure applied. In indoor rowing this point in the stroke is also referred to as the Start.
Cleaver
The most common type of oar, which has a spoon in the shape of a meat cleaver.
Collar
The plastic circular section of the oar that is pressed against the swivel when rowing.
Cox
Person who steers the boat by using the steering mechanism. Can be positioned in either the stern or bow of the boat.
Coxless
Boat without a cox.
Crab
When the oar becomes caught in the water at the moment of extraction and the oar handle strikes the rower. Often causes unintentional release of the oar and significant slowing of boat speed. When this happens the phrase is to ‘catch a crab’.
D
Double
Double scull: a boat for two scullers.
Drive
The part of the stroke between the catch and the extraction when the oar is in the water and propelling the boat.
E
Ergometer/Ergo
Indoor rowing machine used for training or indoor racing.
Extraction
The removal of the oar from the water by application of downward pressure to the oar handle. Also known as the Finish (of the stroke).
F
Feather
Oar spoon is parallel to the water. This is the position of the oar spoon for the recovery section of the stroke. Rowers must be careful to fully extract the oar before feathering.
Fin
A piece of metal or plastic attached to the underside of the boat towards the stern. Provides directional stability by preventing sideways slippage.
Finish
The last part of the stroke where the oar handle is drawn in to the body. Force must be applied to the spoon right to the finish so that water does not catch up with the spoon.
Firm
Term used to suggest that the rower is applying full pressure to the power phase of their rowing stroke.
Fixed Seat
A description used to differentiate a boat without a sliding seat mechanism.
FISA
The Federation Internationale des Societes d’Aviron is the international rowing federation, now known as World Rowing. The Federation is responsible for all international racing and rules. Organises a series of three world cup regattas, an annual World Championship and the World Coastal Championships.
Foot rest
The place on a rowing machine where you put your feet. It can be adjusted to suit your height or flexibility and has straps to secure your feet in place.
Foot stretcher
A bar inside the boat to which the footplate is attached.
Four
Boat for four sweep rowers. Can be coxed or coxless.
Front stay
The front brace of the rigger that secures the pin in place.
Front stops
The position at which the rower sits with their shins vertical at the front of the slide.
G
Gate
The metal bar, tightened by a screw that closes over the swivel to secure the oar.
Gearing
Term used to describe the ratio of inboard to outboard on the oar that determines how much power the rower can apply through the water.
Gunwale
The upper edge of the side of a boat.
H
Head Race
Race in which crews are timed over a set distance. Usually run as a processional race rather than side by side.
Heel Restraints
Attached to the heels of the shoes and to the foot plate. Compulsory safety feature that helps the rower to release their feet from the shoe in the event of a capsize.
Height
A rigging measurement. The vertical distance from seat to point of work at the centre of the bottom edge of the swivel.
I
Inboard
The length of the oar from the end of the handle to the button at the point where it will sit against the swivel.
L
Leather
The sleeve on an oar (blade) which protects the loom from being damaged by the pins.
Length
Length of stroke -the arc through which the oar travels when it is in the water from catch to finish.
Loom
The shaft of the oar from the spoon to the handle.
M
Macon
Type of oar that has the traditional tulip shaped spoon.
Mainstay
The centre bar of a rigger.
N
Novice
Someone who has very little rowing experience.
O
Oar
Lever used to propel a rowing boat. Also known as a blade.
Outboard
The length of the oar from the tip of the spoon to the button at the point where it will sit against the swivel.
Overlap
The amount by which the scull handles overlap when a rower holds them horizontally at right angles to the boat.
P
Para-Rowers
Rowers who have successfully been through the classification process and have been assigned a Sport Class. These rowers are eligible to compete at all levels including the corresponding Rowability grouping and LTA, TA or AS events up to and including the Paralympic Games.
Pin
The spindle on which the swivel rotates.
Pitch
Angle of inclination of the spoon to the vertical during the propulsive phase of the stroke. This is dictated by both the stern and lateral pitch.
Points
Awarded to rowers for winning races. Number of points determines the status of the rower. See the British Rowing Rules of Racing for more details.
Pontoon
Stabilising float that attaches to the rigger.
Port
Left hand side of the boat in direction of travel (stroke side). Often marked by a red stripe on the oar.
Posture
Position of back and shoulder muscles during the stroke cycle.
Pressure
The amount of effort applied by the rower to the power phase of the stroke (usually light, ½, ¾, firm or full).
Q
Quad
Boat for four scullers.
R
Rate or rating
Number of strokes rowed in a minute (also see stroke rate).
Ratio
The ratio of the time taken for the power phase to that of the recovery phase of the stroke.
Recovery
The part of the stroke phase between the extraction (finish) and the beginning or catch when the oar is out of the water.
Regatta
A knock-out competition usually involving heats, semi-finals and finals for each event. Boats compete side by side.
Repechage
In regattas a system that enables losing crews of a heat to race again, and go through to the finals.
Rhythm
The regularity and consistency of a crew’s stroke pattern.
Riggers
Metal outrigger attached to the outer shell of the boat next to each seat that supports the swivel and the pin. There are currently several different designs of rigger from two or three stay metal or carbon tubing to metal or carbon wings.
Rigging
The way in which the riggers, slides, swivel, pins, foot plate, oars and sculls can be adjusted to optimise rower comfort and efficiency.
Rigger jigger
A small double-ended spanner mainly used for attaching and adjusting riggers. One end is 10mm and the other is 13mm diameter.
Rowability
Rowers who have been through the classification process and have been confirmed as meeting a minimal disability, but are not eligible for Para-Rowing. These rowers will have been assigned a boat grouping and are eligible to compete in all British Rowing competitions up to but not including the British Rowing Championships.
Rudder
The device under the boat which when moved causes change of direction. Linked to the steering mechanism.
Running start
A racing start undertaken with the boat already moving.
S
Saxboard
The sides of the boat above the water line made to strengthen the boat where the riggers attach.
Scull
The oar used for sculling. Smaller and shorter than a sweep oar.
Sculling
Rowing with two oars.
Shell
The hull of the boat. Made from either wood or a synthetic material.
Slide
Two metal runners on which the seat travels.
Sleeve
Fixed to the loom of the oar and circled by the collar. Collar can be moved along the sleeve to adjust the gearing of the oar.
Span
The distance between the centres of the port and starboard side pins on a sculling boat.
Split
Term used to describe the pace an individual is rowing, referenced as the time it takes to row 500m. It is one of the units you will see on a rowing machine monitor and will displayed as a time 0:00.0/500m.
Spoon
The end of the oar which enters the water. Usually painted in the colours of the club represented by the rower.
Spread
Distance between the centreline of the shell to the centre of the pin in a sweep boat.
Square or squaring
To turn the oar so that the spoon is at 90º to the water. This action should be done early enough during the recovery to ensure good preparation for the catch. See also Feathering.
Standing start
A racing start done from stationary.
Starboard
Right hand side of the boat in direction of travel (bow side). Often marked by a green stripe on the oar.
Stake boat
An anchored boat or pontoon from which rowing boats are held prior to a race starting.
Status
Levels of racing determined by the number of times a rower has won a race. See the British Rowing Rules of Racing for more details.
Stern
The end of the boat that travels through the water last.
Stern loader
A boat where the cox sits at the back (stern) of the boat.
Stroke
1. One cycle of the oar. 2. The rower who sits closest to the stern of the boat in front of all the others and is responsible for the rating and rhythm of the boat.
Stroke rate
The number of strokes rowed in one minute. Sometimes referred to simply as “rate”.
Sweep
Rowing with one oar on one side of the boat.
Swivel
The U shaped plastic rotating piece mounted on the pin in which the oar sits whilst rowing.
T
Tap down
To the lower the hands at the end of the stroke to remove the spoon from the water.
Tap turn
Term used to describe a method of turning the boat where each rower uses a forwards or backwards rowing action with their arms only.
Thole pin
In fixed seat boats the oar will lie in between 2 pins.
Thwart
Structural cross piece forming a seat in a traditional rowing boat.
Trestles
Portable stand used to support a boat for rigging, washing and admiring.
W
Washing out
Allowing the oars to become uncovered in the propulsive phase of the stroke, usually towards the end of the stroke.
Rowing History: Timeline & How it started
Rowing history, a fascinating journey through time, showcases the evolution and impact of this captivating sport.
Dive into the rich narrative of rowing history.
Discover its origins, development, and the milestones that define its legacy today!
Let’s set sail!
●Origins and Evolution: Rowing traces its roots to ancient civilizations, with evidence of oar-powered vessels in Egypt and Greece. It evolved from a means of transportation and warfare to a competitive sport by the 17th century, with the first documented races taking place in England.
●Rise to Prominence: The establishment of prestigious regattas, such as the Henley Royal Regatta and the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race, bolstered rowing’s reputation. In the 19th and 20th centuries, rowing clubs and collegiate programs flourished, spreading the sport’s appeal internationally.
●Noteworthy Growth and Adaptation: Over time, rowing embraced evolving boat designs, training methods, and competition formats. Its inclusion in the modern Olympic Games since 1900 signaled the sport’s global significance. Rowing has adapted to contemporary challenges, including gender inclusivity and environmental sustainability, ensuring its future relevance.
●Rowing History Timeline
1715 – 1829
The first recorded rowing race took place on the River Thames in England, between watermen working for patrons in 1715. These early competitions often had high stakes, with participants vying for cash prizes and prestigious titles.
In 1829, the inaugural Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race occurred, a historic rivalry that persists to this day. The event marked rowing’s transition from a profession to a competitive sport and remains an iconic annual tradition.
1839
The Henley Royal Regatta was founded in 1839, serving as a pinnacle rowing event that attracted significant spectator interest. With strict rules and competitive spirit, the regatta gained international prominence and showcases the sport’s athleticism and endurance.
Today, the Henley Royal Regatta remains a premier rowing event, featuring hundreds of races and drawing elite competitors from across the globe.
1850s
In the mid-19th century, rowing began to flourish in the United States, with the establishment of clubs and competitive regattas. In 1852, the first Harvard-Yale race, considered the first intercollegiate contest in any sport, took place in New Hampshire, eventually evolving into the famed annual Harvard-Yale Regatta.
This era also saw the establishment of notable rowing clubs such as the Detroit Boat Club (1839), Union Boat Club (1851), and New York Athletic Club (1868), signifying rowing’s growing importance in American culture.
1876 – 1893
Rowing continued to expand internationally, with the first Australian Rowing Championships taking place in 1876. In 1892, FISA, the International Rowing Federation, was founded in Turin, Italy, marking the sport’s formalization on a global scale.
The following year, in 1893, the first European Rowing Championships were held, further solidifying rowing’s international footprint and fostering cross-border competition.
1900
Rowing made its debut in the modern Olympic Games during the 1900 Paris Olympics, asserting the sport’s status as a prominent athletic discipline. The inclusion of rowing contributed to its global popularization and solidified the sport as a cherished element of the Olympic tradition.
Since then, rowing events have featured at every Olympic Games, showcasing the dedication, skill, and endurance of elite rowers worldwide.
1976
The 1976 Montreal Olympics marked a crucial milestone in rowing’s history—women’s rowing competitions were finally included in the Olympics. Previously restricted to male participation, this breakthrough emphasized gender inclusivity and opened the door for women to make their mark in the sport.
In the years that followed, remarkable female rowers have emerged, such as Elisabeta Lipă and Katherine Grainger, who have redefined the landscape of international rowing.
1990s – 2000s
Innovations in rowing’s later years include the introduction of adaptive rowing programs for para-athletes, leveling the playing field and ensuring the sport’s accessibility. In 2005, the first Adaptive Rowing World Championships took place, further solidifying rowing’s commitment to inclusivity.
At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Paralympic Games featured rowing events for the first time, showcasing the sport’s unity and spirit of competition for all athletes, regardless of physical ability.
2010s
As environmental concerns and sustainability have come to the forefront of global consciousness, rowing has begun to embrace eco-friendly practices. Innovations like bio-based plastics and the use of solar-powered equipment showcase the sport’s adaptation to modern challenges.
Rowing also addresses social responsibility, with initiatives such as Row for the Ocean, which raises awareness about plastic pollution. These endeavors signal a brighter future, balancing athletic prowess with conscientious stewardship of our planet.
FAQ
Who invented Rowing?
Rowing was not invented by a specific person, but was developed as a means of transportation in ancient cultures such as the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.
How did Rowing become so popular?
Rowing’s popularity grew through its adoption in university sports programs, successful international competitors, and its inclusion in the Olympic Games.
Where did Rowing originate?
Rowing originated in Ancient Egypt. Historically, it played crucial roles in warfare, trade, and transportation.
Rowing World Championships 2023: All final results, times and medals - Complete List
Paris 2024
The Paris 2024 Olympic qualifier, featuring 14 Olympic boat classes, takes place in Serbian capital Belgrade from 3-10 September. Here’s the full list of results.
Andre Stuzina of Switzerland won the men's lightweight single sculls gold medal at the 2023 World Rowing Championships
The world's top rowers have gathered in Belgrade, Serbia, for the World Rowing Championships 2023, eager to secure their nation's Olympic games Paris 2024 qualification berth.
In addition to the 114 Olympic qualification spots up for grabs across the 14 Olympic boat classes, there are also world titles in six international lightweight boats at stake.
The regatta is held on the Ada Ciganlija course situated on the Sava Lake in the heart of Belgrade.
Great Britain topped the medal table in last September in Czechia, with the men defending their four and eight titles, and the women the four and lightweight double sculls crowns.
Romania came closest to the Britons in Olympic boat classes, winning the men's pair, the women's eight, and the women's double sculls 12 months ago.
Check out the complete list of medallists from the 2023 Rowing World Championships below.
Emma Twigg - Good things take time
Results Rowing World Championships 2023: Full list of medallists
Friday 8 September
Men's lightweight quadruple sculls - A final
1. Luca Borgonovo, Nicolo Demilani, Pietro Ruta, Matteo Tonelli (Italy) - 6.29.42
2. Max von Bulow, Simon Klueter, Fabio Kress, Joachim Agne (Germany) - 6.37.83
3. Not awarded
Men's lightweight pair - A final
1. Francesco Bardelli, Stefano Pinsone (Italy) - 7.34.82
2. Bence Szabo, Kalman Furko (Hungary) - 7.40.23
3. Dimitrii Zincenco, Nichita Naumcuc (Moldova) - 7.57.24
Women's lightweight pair - A final
1. Serena Mossi, Elisa Grisoni (Italy) - 8.33.13
2. Luise Munch, Eva Hohoff (Germany) - 8.40.64
3. Not awarded
Men's lightweight single sculls - A final
1. Andri Struzina (Switzerland) - 7.42.21
2. Niels Torre (Italy) - 7.44.90
3. Artur Mikolajczewski (Poland) - 7.47.72
Women's lightweight single sculls - A final
1. Siobhan McCrohan (Ireland) - 8.47.96
2. Kenia Lechuga (Mexico) - 8.51.57
3. Martine Veldhuis (Netherlands) - 8.52.48
Saturday 9 September
Women's pair - A final
1. Ymkje Clevering, Veronique Meester (Netherlands) - 7.20.52
2. Jessica Morrison, Annabelle McIntyre (Australia) - 7.22.90
3. Ioana Vrinceanu, Roxana Anghel (Romania) - 7.24.33
Men's pair - A final
1. Roman Roosli, Andrin Gulich (Switzerland) - 6.51.09
2. Oliver Wynne-Griffith, Thom George (Great Britain) - 6.53.46
3. Ross Corrigan, Nathan Timoney (Ireland) - 6.54.22
Women's lightweight double sculls - A final
1. Emily Craig, Imogen Grant (Great Britain) - 7.19.23
2. Michelle Sechser, Mary Jones (USA) - 7.22.89
3. Mariana-Laura Dumitru, Ionela Cozmiuc (Romania) - 7.23.70
Men's lightweight double sculls - A final
1. Fintan McCarthy, Paul O'Donovan (Ireland) - 6.32.09
2. Jan Schauble, Raphael Ahumada (Switzerland) - 6.34.38
3. Stefano Oppo, Gabriel Soares (Italy) - 6.34.77
Women's four - A final
1. Marloes Oldenburg, Hermijntje Drenth, Tinka Offereins, Benthe Boonstra (Netherlands) - 6.41.82
2. Madalina Beres, Maria Tivodariu, Maria-Magdalena Rusu, Amalia Beres (Romania) - 6.43.29
3. Heidi Long, Rowan McKellar, Helen Glover, Rebecca Shorten (Great Britain) - 6.44.31
Men's four - A final
1. Oliver Wilkes, David Ambler, Matt Aldridge, Freddie Davidson (Great Britain) - 6.04.35
2. Justin Best, Nick Mead, Michael Grady, Liam Corrigan (USA) - 6.06.37
3. Ollie Maclean, Logan Ullrich, Tom Murray, Matt Macdonald (New Zealand) - 6.08.44
Women's quadruple sculls - A final
1. Lauren Henry, Hannah Scott, Lola Anderson, Georgina Brayshaw (Great Britain) - 6.29.70
2. Roos de Jong, Tessa Dullemans, Laila Youssifou, Bente Paulis (Netherlands) - 6.30.37
3. Yunxia Chen, Ling Zhang, Yang Lu, Xiaotong Cui (People's Republic of China) - 6.35.05
Men's quadruple sculls - A final
1. Lennart van Lierop, Finn Florijn, Tone Wieten, Koen Metsemakers (Netherlands) - 5.52.33
2. Nocolo Carucci, Andrea Panizza, Luca Chiumento, Giacomo Gentili (Italy) - 5.54.58
3. Dominik Czaja, Fabian Baranski, Miroslaw Zietarski, Mateusz Biskup (Poland) - 5.55.02
Sunday 10 September
Men's double sculls - A final
1. Melvin Twellaar, Stef Broenink (Netherlands) - 6.09.19
2. Martin Sinkovic, Valent Sinkovic (Croatia) - 6.12.44
3. Daire Lynch, Philip Doyle (Ireland) - 6.13.41
Women's double sculls - A final
1. Ancuta Bodnar, Simona Radis (Romania) - 6.46.94
2. Donata Karaliene, Dovile Rimkute (Lithuania) - 6.50.34
3. Kristina Wagner, Sophia Vitas (USA) - 6.50.45
Women's eight - A final
1. Maria-Magdalena Rusu, Roxana Anghel, Adriana Adam, Luliana Buhus, Madalina Beres, Maria Tivodariu, Ioana Vrinceanu, Amalia Beres, Victoria-Stefania Petreanu (Romania) - 6.01.28
2. Emily Froehlich, Margaret Hedeman, Jessica Thoennes, Regina Salmons, Alina Hagstrom, Brooke Mooney, Mary Mazzio-Manson, Charlotte Buck, Cristina Castagna (USA) - 6.03.73
3. Paige Barr, Georgie Gleeson, Olympia Aldersey, Lily Alton-Triggs, Georgina Rowe, Jacqueline Swick, Molly Goodman, Bronwyn Cox, Hayley Verbunt (Australia) - 6.04.17
Men's single sculls - A final
1. Oliver Zeidler (Germany) - 6.38.08
2. Simon van Dorp (Netherlands) - 6.39.26
3. Thomas Mackintosh (New Zealand) - 6.40.33
Women's single sculls - A final
1. Karolien Florijn (Netherlands) - 7.14.35
2. Emma Twigg (New Zealand) - 7.19.43
3. Tara Rigney (Australia) - 7.21.07
Men's eight - A final
1. Jacob Dawson, Morgan Bolding, Rory Gibbs, Sholto Carnegie, Charles Elwes, Thomas Digby, James Rudkin, Thomas Ford, Harry Brightmore (Great Britain) - 5.24.20
2. Guus Mollee, Olav Molenaar, Jan van Der Bij, Guillaume Krommenhoek, Sander de Graaf, Jacob van de Kerkhof, Gert-Jan van doorn, Mick Makker, Dieuwke Fetter (Netherlands) - 5.25.23
3. Patrick Holt, Joshua Hicks, Benjamin Canham, Timothy Masters, James Daniel Robertson, Joseph O'Brien, Angus Dawson, Angus Widdicombe, Kendall Brodie (Australia) - 5.26.65
Olympic rowing champion
Emma Twigg: “I am who I am
and life doesn't change a
hell of a lot because of
my sexuality”
Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion
Emma Twigg does not beat
around the bush.
"I’m a fairly black and white
person,"the rower tells Olympics.
com from her hotel room in
Pusiano, near Lake Como, Italy.
The 37-year-old is currently in a
phase she’s experienced many
times before: crunch time.
"I'm in the thick of it now," Twigg
says. "This is one of the most
important months. It's our last
really big training block where
all the speed work and all the
race sprint happens. It's exciting
to be in this phase, but also a
little bit daunting as well,
because every day you’ve got to
be on.
At the Olympic Games Paris
2024, she’ll line up for her fifth,
and she puts it, likely last
Olympics.
"I would say likely my last,
because you never know what's
in the future," says the Kiwi.
The down-to-earth New
Zealander has had a storied
career, finishing fourth at two
Olympics with back-to-back
heartbreakingly close podium
misses in London 2012 and
Rio 2016. She got her golden
moment three years ago in
Tokyo, though, and now has
the task of defending her
single sculls crown in Paris.
"Some would say that there's a
lot of pressure that comes with
being the reigning Olympic
champion, but at the end of the
day you're still trying to achieve
the same thing. Still trying to
race fast down the rowing
track," Twigg explains.
Twigg’s efforts on the water, as an
Olympic champion and seven-time
World Championship medal winner
don’t reflect the plethora of skills she
has in her arsenal off the water.
She’s a marriage celebrant, cycle
mechanic, holds a FIFA Master in
Management, Law and Humanities of
Sport degree, and is a Member of the
New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM),
as well as being a wife to Charlotte
and mother to two-year-old Tommy.
She's also been a shining light when
it comes to living an unapologetically
authentic life as an out-and-proud
woman.
"As as a young rower, I never wanted
to be known as the gay rower. I
wanted to be known as an
exceptional athlete. As I’ve gone on I
think that talking about my sexuality
has become more important because
I reflect on the fact that I have a
platform and a profile and I can help
people. And so I think the more it's
talked about, the more stories that
are out there the better."
- Emma Twigg
When the topic of June being Pride
Month is mentioned, Twigg doesn’t
give too much away. It's not some-
thing she celebrates likes Christmas,
but she respects it greatly.
"When we don't have to talk about
pride, we're probably in a great place
because you're accepting everyone
for who they are," she says.
Yes, she’s proud to be a gay athlete,
but she’s quick to acknowledge
she’s more than any label, the same
way she feels celebrating pride is
more than just celebrating a
particular set of days each year.
"I've always had the approach that
you just be who you are and that
story is told through the fact that I
have a wife and a child and the
discussion that we're having, that's
me being open about who I am and
who I married and my life. Those are
the stories that I think young people
that are struggling with their
sexuality will pick up on.
"But in saying that, I think it's really
important that we have those
conversations and Pride Month is
hugely important in making safe
spaces for all people," Twigg
elaborates.
"I just recently became an
ambassador for Pride House in Paris,
which is really cool. Hopefully we'll
get there and be able to do some stuff
with them. Other than seeing it on
social media I wouldn't know in the
calendar year what month is
Pride Month.
"I am who I am and life doesn't
change a hell of a lot because of my
sexuality. That's a really privileged
position to be in because it's not the
same for everyone, which is why it is
important to keep talking about it and
to keep pushing boundaries - just as
it is to have female representation in
different government positions.
There's all sorts of things that we
can keep championing.”
In many ways it seems Twigg's trying
to be the role model she never had
as a young athlete, after we asked if
she had a gay role model growing up.
"Not really to be honest and I wish I
did. Not especially not in rowing.
Beijing 2008 is quite a long time ago
now and I think as time has gone on,
there's been more and more people,
women in particular, talking about
their sexuality.
"I wish I had that when I was a bit
younger. It may have helped me out in
those kind of earlier years to have
people like that around.
"That's why I like to kind of be visible
now because hopefully there's, you
know, 15, 16, 17-year-olds out there
that can kind of feel like life is normal.
"Everyone has different backgrounds,
different struggles, different
challenges, but there is a role model
for everyone that is going through
something similar. I think the more we
talk about a diverse range of people
and stories the better that is for young
people. They will then, kind of find
their hero and if I can be a hero, then
that's cool."
Emma Twigg -
Good things
take time
The final countdown:
Paris 2024
With the clock ticking down until
race day, Twigg is acutely aware that
time is of the essence.
"I'm trying to kind of almost put the
handbrake on a little bit because this
is the last five weeks essentially.
"In this period every session you do is
super important and you need to be
present to do it well," she says.
Having won gold in empathic style -
nearly three and a half seconds clear
of the silver medallist - she knows
what it takes to finish first at the
biggest show on earth. But this
Games build-up feels different
because she’s uncertain if she’ll ever
be in this position again.
"That’s the mindset that I've taken.
This isn't going to happen again for
me, so I’m enjoying it. But it's funny to
think that this is like probably the last
really intensive Pre-Olympic workout.
It’s sad and exciting. Sad from the
perspective that it's a really unique
time and just this level of focus I don't
think I'll probably ever have is anything
else that I will do." - Emma Twigg
"I probably appreciate it more five
Olympic cycles down the track, but
then it’s exciting because the last
part, this is where the kind of magic
happens. Also I think retirement is
going to bring lots of exciting stuff as
well," Twigg says with a smile on her
face.
Before that happens though, she’s
got a tall task in front of her -
defending her Olympic crown. Twigg
hopes to be just the second woman
to defend the single sculls title,
following Ekaterina Karsten of
Belarus who achieved this at Atlanta
1996 and Sydney 2000.
"I watched Mahe Drysdale (two-time
Olympic single sculls champion) talk
about me on the news recently and
how sitting on the start line and
knowing that you're the only one in
the race that knows how to win it or
has won one. It's quite a cool thing
to think about.
"For sure it’s my title to defend, but
you can't really control what the rest
of the world is doing, you can only
control you racing your fastest race.
"And that's what this kind of time
now is about, is preparing myself so
that I can be in a position to defend
that title. And hopefully enjoy the
experience along the way," the Kiwi
says.
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