New Zealand’s rowing twins bow out
Double Olympic gold medallists and three time world rowing champions Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell of New Zealand have announced their retirement from rowing.
The identical twins have been international rowers for almost a decade without a break and in that time they have won back-to-back Olympic golds with World Championship titles in 2002, 2003 and in 2005.
Caroline and Georgina’s victory at the Beijing Olympics was one of the closest in the history of Olympic Games rowing and came at the end of two difficult seasons. They finished with silver in 2007 and entered the 2008 Olympics as outsiders to retain their title after failing to make the Final at the Rowing World Cup earlier in the 2008 season. This was the first time in the history of Olympic rowing that the women’s double sculls title had been successfully defended.
“The twins are an example of guts and determination that every young athlete can look up to,” said their coach of eight years, Richard Tonks. “They have delivered when it has mattered most and no coach could ever ask for more. It’s been a pleasure to work with them.”
Caroline and Georgina now plan to take some time out while they decide their futures off the water. "Retiring now just feels right," said Caroline. "It's been a great time in our lives and we couldn't have done it without Richard [Tonks]. We have always said they should give out three medals not two.”
"Rowing [in New Zealand] has a wealth of talent and the sport is very healthy,” said Georgina. “It's a great time to bring on the young talent and for us to say goodbye.”
“The sport will forever be indebted to them,” said Rowing New Zealand Chairman Bill Falconer. “They are icons not only in New Zealand but in world rowing and world sport. It’s always a tough decision to retire but these girls have given a decade of their lives to winning and they are leaving the sport as Olympic Champions.”
Copy thanks to Richard Gee
Gold in Athens - and dominance in the women's double scull
Back from the brink - and a superb title defence in Beijing
What they'll best be remembered for - being champions
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