Emma Twigg: Kiwi rower on winning a silver medal for the women's single sculls at the Paris Olympics

New Zealand's Paris Olympic medal tally has a new addition, following Emma Twigg's silver in the women's single sculls.

The 37-year-old finished less than two seconds behind Dutch rival Karolien Florijn.

Twigg says she's proud to have competed among the world's best.

"This week has been really special because I've put the handbrakes on it, knowing it's going to be my last Olympics. So to have just soaked up all the unique thigs about the Games - it probably hasn't sunk in that it's all over."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News Talks edb.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
So as I mentioned another robbing medal for New Zealand coming.

Speaker 3 (00:17):
To the line, Charlene Floray, not the Netherlands, gets the
gold medal, you Zeiland.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
Semma Twig gets silver.

Speaker 3 (00:26):
And she's exhausted, She's given it her all.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
What a way to finish her Olympic career. And of
course that's silver for Emma, backing up a gold in Tokyo.
Emma Twig is with me now from Paris. Congratulations, Emma, thank.

Speaker 3 (00:39):
You so much for your time, No worries, it's a pleasure.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
You're amazing.

Speaker 3 (00:44):
How are you feeling, I'm I'm so. It's been an
amazing day, A nice way to finish off this campaign
for our whole team. But yeah, just super proud of
what we did out there on the water and proud
of my rest there. So yeah, I can't complain.

Speaker 2 (01:02):
You could tell that you left it all out there, Emma.

Speaker 3 (01:06):
I certainly did. I certainly did. My legs were feeling
it with one hundred meters to go, but that's growing
and that's the beauty of our sport is that you know,
you know when you've ented the tank, and I certainly
did that today.

Speaker 2 (01:17):
What does this medal mean?

Speaker 3 (01:20):
Oh, it means a huge amount. I think, you know,
the Tokyo a little Bit Gold obviously was a different
story and a different part of my journey, but this
is equally been as proud a day for me. I
think there's you know, there's always backstories to journeys, and
this one has had its ups and downs and little
added extras in the form of a two year old,

(01:42):
but it's yeah, I can look at it with a
lot of pride and also know that I've been racing
the absolute best in the world and Carolyn today was
slightly faster, but that sits well with me. When you've
you've done all.

Speaker 1 (01:54):
That you can.

Speaker 2 (01:55):
You mentioned your family there. How special was it to
have Charlotte and to your old Tommy in the crowd?

Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah, it's pretty cool. Obviously not having the family there
in Tokyo, they were actually a bit nervous coming to
this regatta because they felt that they had been the
curse for the previous three. So it's actually lovely for
them to see him here and having them, you know,
have tears of joy as opposed to being absolutely gutted
for me. So yeah, it's so cool. And you know

(02:24):
Karna and Simon Lack who Simon is the New Zealand
boat builder that built my boat, he's here as well.
So yeah, all the crew that have been there at
all the other games Tokyo here, so it's pretty awesome.

Speaker 2 (02:35):
You're probably going to have to show Tommy a video
in the future just to remind him about the day
that he saw you at the Olympics.

Speaker 3 (02:41):
Yeah. I'm pretty sure he's not one hundred percent up
to speed with what's going on, and he looks very
tired at the moment, but he's been lovely and clinging
and cuddley, so I'm laughing it up.

Speaker 2 (02:50):
Oh wonderful. What is it like at the end of
a campaign like the SEMA I mean, I'm sure that
just the result is sinking in. The whole tournament is
probably sinking in, but it is such a big lead
up for sort of this very short burst of of rowing.
How what is it like when you get to the
end of a campaign like this.

Speaker 3 (03:12):
Yeah, I was actually chatting to Lucy about this. Lucy Spores,
our wonderful gold medal winning mum. We were saying, how
you know there is so much effort and you literally
get to this week and you start the week and
you just want the week to be over, weirdly because
of all the you know, the tension and the build
up and the nerves. But you know, I guess what
this week has been for me is really special because

(03:34):
I've kind of put the handbrakes on it knowing that
it's going to be my last Olympics, and so I
just have soaked up all of the unique things about
the games, and yeah, probably hasn't sunk and that it's
all over, but I'm also really looking forward to putting
my feet up because my body has been hanging on
by an absolute thread.

Speaker 2 (03:52):
Is the Olympic pressure unlike any other tournament?

Speaker 3 (03:56):
Yeah? I think it is what you make it, really,
And that's one thing I've probably learned over my five
campaigns is it is just another rowing race. And I think,
you know, I've had nume chats with Maheva Wee and
he kept talking about the fact that you know, new
people to the game sometimes feel the pressure and taking
advantage of that experience and you know, just taking all
the boxes and stepping up each round, which is you know,

(04:20):
it was sound advice, really, and yeah, I felt like
today that probably showed in the race and some of
the less experienced athletes didn't come to the front. But
that's the Olympics, and that's the beauty of the Olympics.

Speaker 2 (04:33):
The team has done really well, though you're part of
a team which has you know, got fourth essentially.

Speaker 3 (04:39):
Yeah, yeah, it's pretty cool to be standing on that
stage today with so many first time Olympians that have
won medals, and even for those that didn't necessarily achieve
what they wanted to. I think our team has been
super tight this time round. And I said to them
today as I was a blubbering this that I was
super proud to be part of it. And of the

(05:01):
five games I've been too, I think what I've felt
this time round has been extra special.

Speaker 2 (05:06):
I think a lot of key wes have had a
tear in their eye. It's just been such a delight
to what you perform. So, of course this is the
last Olympics. What next?

Speaker 3 (05:15):
Yeah, that's a good question that sometime I've just been asked.
I don't know, To be honest, I'll be shutening my
CV up and I hope that as one door closes,
another door opens. But I'm certainly looking forward to chilling
and kind of seeing what's out there and figuring out
the next thing.

Speaker 2 (05:30):
I know that you've mentioned that it's the training that
you probably enjoy the most. Do you think you'll stay
in the boat.

Speaker 3 (05:37):
I'm sure I'd like to keep rowing, maybe in a
coastal format, because I think when you've been at the
top of your game, and you know how good a
boat feels when you're at your absolute peak, it's hard
to hop in a boat and not feel that way.
So I'm sure I'll dip my oro and every now
and then, and I'm definitely going to keep certain and
look for different challenges elsewhere.

Speaker 2 (05:58):
Emmitt, the campaign is over, your media obligations are almost over.
What do you get to have a little bit of
a break with the family in Europe?

Speaker 3 (06:06):
It's the plan, yep. So we got a couple of
days in Paris and I hope to get to see
some more keywies do their thing, and then we're heading
for the Greek Islands for five days. So yeah, we're
really looking forward to just some chill time with the family.

Speaker 2 (06:19):
Fantastic, Thank you so much for your time today and
congratulations well done.

Speaker 3 (06:24):
Thank you.

Speaker 2 (06:25):
Emma Twig there silver for her and the rowing single
sculls last night at her final Olympics.

Speaker 1 (06:30):
For more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudkin, listen
live to News Talks the b from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio