ROWeRS OF the FUtURe
Uru Storm of New Zealand
in action in the lightweight
men’s single sculls at the
2007 Rowing World Cup in
Lucerne, Switzerland.
11
"People have said to me ‘you can’t do that’.
As a stereotypical Maori in New Zealand,
you get underestimated at times, but when
you get told ‘you can’t do that’, it gives you
more resolve." In 2006, he received the
"Maori sportsman of the year" award: "It
has given me a lot of Mana (pride) and joy.
With the sort of guys I was up against, I
didn’t think I had a chance of winning."
Rowing, says Storm, gives him a sense of
purpose every day: "It’s great to have a
cause and a goal, great to have success
when you train and work so hard. It gives
you a lot of confidence and shows that if
you really want to achieve something you
can." ■ D.F.
© Igor Meijer
Emma Twigg of New Zealand during the
semifinal of the women’s single sculls at the
2007 World Rowing Under 23 Championships
at Strathclyde, Scotland (GBR).
© 2007 Getty Images
