Rowing: Head-turners face fresh challenge

Caroline, left, and Georgina Evers-Swindell. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell are set to become the faces of world rowing.

They will become promotional figures for a sport that needs to be more "sexy", in the eyes of rowing chiefs.

New Zealand Rowing boss Craig Ross said the just-completed world forum addressed ways of lifting rowing's profile.

"At the moment they don't see enough appeal in it, it's not sexy enough." Officials of the sport's world governing body, Fisa, suggested using rowers such as British greats Sir Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent.

"I turned around and said, 'Hang on, you've got two beautiful blondes sitting right outside the conference hall doing a promotion'," Ross said.

"They're unique, they're twins and they present a wonderful face for rowing. They just turned the forum on its head."

Ross said it was not clear what the twins' roles would be but it was unlikely to affect their training.