ROWeRS OF the FUtURe
nEW KIWIS On thE MARKEt twigg and Uru
make their marks
© Igor Meijer
A young crop of kiwi rowers is ripening
in New Zealand. Rowing excellence in
the land of the long White Cloud is
promising to endure with flourishing
rowers emma twigg and Storm Uru,
who have already made their mark on
the scene of international competition.
Emma Twigg (NZL)
10
New Zealand has not been represented in
the women’s single at the senior level since
Sonia Waddell competed at Athens in 2004,
but EmmaTwigg, 20, shows she might
just be the one to fill in Waddell’s shoes.
Boasting a world title at both under-23 and
junior level, Emma raced against the greats
at Munich where she finished a remarkable
sixthplaceinthefinal, assuring herself a
spot for the 2008 Olympic Games: "I take
one event at a time. I’d like to secure the
single sculling sport on the national team,
looking long-term to 2012," says the blond-headed Kiwi.
rowing I had opportunities to compete
internationally," is how she explains her
choice of sport. Growing up in a rowing
environment certainly worked to Emma’s
advantage, but her natural height and
strength, combined with a very competitive
spirit, also were essential ingredients of
success: "When I have a bee in my bonnet
about something, I’m pretty determined to
achieve my goals. I don’t like losing." During
training, Emma constantly competes against
Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell: "I’m
so lucky to be able to be beside them. They
are the best yardstick I could possibly have."
Competitiveness did not settle in from the
start though. A really enthusiastic family
friend invited Storm out to a club when he
was 13. He got hooked: "I loved the team
environment, spending time outside and
meeting new people. I had a lot of fun." Not
until he left school and went to University did
he start getting really fast: "I decided that if
I’d continue rowing I’d do it seriously." Now
rowing takes priority. Majoring in chemistry
and finance, he managed to squeeze in his
university exams during this year’s Rowing
World Cup season and passed.
© Igor Meijer
Emma’s father used to cox when he was in
high school and then went on to coach. "I
played field hockey when I started rowing
and had to decide between the two. With
Storm Uru, on the other hand, races against
MaheDrysdale and fellow lightweight
Duncan Grant back home: " This makes me
train and push my body harder."
Now 22 the dark-haired lightweight has
scored gold at two World Rowing Under 23
Championships and silver at two Rowing
World Cups. When asked if his Maori origins
give him special strength, he replies:
Storm Uru (NZL)
