Thomas Keller award finalists profiled – The Evers-Swindell twins

The identical twins from New Zealand finished their rowing career in 2008 by playing out the best possible scenario – winning an Olympic gold medal. Moreover this win made them the first duo in history to successfully defend the Olympic women’s double sculls title. Caroline and Georgina joined a small, elite group of New Zealanders to have two Olympic Champion titles.

Caroline took to rowing first, at the age of 14, hoping to do something a bit different from her sister. She made the New Zealand team as a junior in her second year of rowing. Georgina followed Caroline into rowing two years later. They raced together in the junior women’s double in 1996 and since then the twins have been inseparable.

Known for their head-down, non-questioning, uncompromising work ethic, Caroline and Georgina came under the guidance of New Zealand’s distinguished head coach, Dick Tonks in 2000. The partnership lasted until the end of the twins’ career and produced two Olympic golds, two World Championship titles and a World Best Time, set in 2002, that still stands today. It meant that between 2001 and 2008 the Evers-Swindell’s were the crew to beat in the women’s double sculls.

During their career Caroline and Georgina regularly distinguished themselves as twins rather than individuals, but they both made their mark in rowing in their own way as well. Caroline was the New Zealand champion in the women’s single sculls from 2000 through to 2007. Georgina’s distinction was on the indoor rowing machine. In 2002 she set the World Record for women. It has since been broken but only by 4/100th of a second.

In New Zealand they are household names and they have been honoured many times for their sporting achievements including the top sporting award of the nation in 2001. Caroline and Georgina have also received the Lonsdale Cup twice. This is awarded by the New Zealand Olympic Committee to an athlete(s) who make the most outstanding contribution to an Olympic sport. At the closing ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games Caroline and Georgina were co-flag bearers for New Zealand.

The Evers-Swindells have also been recognised internationally receiving the World Rowing Female Crew of the Year in both 2003 and 2005.

Leading up to their final regatta, the 2008 Olympic Games, Caroline and Georgina were no longer dominant in the double. At the World Rowing Cup, their last major race before the Olympics, the duo finished seventh. There was talk that their chance of even medaling at Beijing was slim. But, despite the pressure, the twins pulled out their best race when it really mattered. On the Shunyi course in Beijing, Caroline and Georgina crossed the finishing line in the tightest race of the regatta.

They had won, but by just 1/100th of a second.