Rowing: Twigg's Olympic ambitions get harder

Emma Twigg. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Emma Twigg's Olympic Games journey got more complicated this week at the world championships in France.

The defending world single sculls title-holder is a spectator at the regatta, after opting out of Rowing New Zealand's programme to complete a post-graduate Fifa masters course in the management, law and humanities of sport, taught across universities in Leicester, Milan and Neuchatel.

Fiona Bourke took up the oars in her absence, but failed to qualify the single sculls spot for Rio when she missed the semi-finals by 0.39s. The top nine at the world championships earn an Olympic spot for their country.

Twigg hasn't spoken to Bourke, a world champion double sculler last year, since her defeat.

"She was placed in a difficult position and I have to put myself in her shoes. If I knew I was trying to qualify a boat for someone else it makes the motivation and desire to go to the next level tough in the final 250-500m when people are doing crazy things to get those [Olympic] spots. I have absolutely nothing against Fi and I know she'd probably rather be in another boat."

Presuming Twigg is selected as New Zealand's female single sculler at the national trials in March, she must now finish in the top three at May's European championships to earn a place at a third Olympics. The regatta will be held in Brandenburg, Germany, site of the 28-year-old's junior world championship win in 2005.

"I was hoping I wouldn't be [in this position] but it was always factored into my decision to head away last year.

"I hoped the mind of Rowing New Zealand might have changed halfway through year but Fi [Bourke] was given a hard job and, to be honest, she shouldn't have been placed in that position. But it hasn't changed my plans for next year. I intend to compete at a regatta which has more significance than a normal World Cup, and win every other race anyway, if I want Olympic gold.

"My focus is still Rio and getting more racing, which is probably a positive. I've had no discussions with Rowing New Zealand but obviously [after the trials] they have to decide to send me first."

Twigg can afford a positive mindset. At the London Games, bronze medallist Kim Crow of Australia and silver medallist Fie Udby Erichsen of Denmark finished first and second respectively in Lucerne at what is colloquially known as the 'Regatta of Death' for the three final Olympic spots.

"It just means coming to Europe a bit earlier," Twigg says. "It's added mental stress but doesn't have a huge impact on my preparation. What I'm trying to achieve is still the same, it's just a shame I have the added question of uncertainty in the next few months.

"Now it's up to me to go home, train hard and hit the start line in Brandenburg making sure there is no question I'll be going to Rio."

Twigg is scheduled home on September 28. She will join the summer squad and resume working with coach Gary Hay.

She had planned to race the Gold Cup [Philadelphia, October 24], Armada Cup [Switzerland, October 31] and Silver Skiff [Italy, November 7-8] to supplement a reduction in 2015 funding with prize money. Those plans are on hold for now as her aperture narrows on Olympic gold.

Emma Twigg's trajectory - her single sculling record at pinnacle events
2007 world championships - 6th
2008 Olympic Games - 9th
2009 world championships - 4th
2010 world championships - 3rd
2011 world championships - 3rd
2012 Olympic Games - 4th
2013 world championships - 2nd
2014 world championships - 1st