1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,387 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,747 --> 00:00:16,827 Speaker 2: Superhuman keiw rower Emma Twig is on track for US 4 00:00:16,867 --> 00:00:20,667 Speaker 2: sixth Olympic Games. She became a world champion in the 5 00:00:20,707 --> 00:00:25,267 Speaker 2: women's solo event at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals 6 00:00:25,387 --> 00:00:27,107 Speaker 2: in Turkey last weekend. 7 00:00:27,907 --> 00:00:31,507 Speaker 3: She's taking her chances with looking over USh Older to 8 00:00:31,667 --> 00:00:33,387 Speaker 3: manage where that Flala boy is. 9 00:00:33,627 --> 00:00:34,707 Speaker 1: Well, they've only got. 10 00:00:34,587 --> 00:00:35,947 Speaker 3: One athly left in this world. 11 00:00:36,067 --> 00:00:40,027 Speaker 2: Romsey spent finals, but what uply is enough to be 12 00:00:40,147 --> 00:00:41,627 Speaker 2: crown champion. 13 00:00:41,187 --> 00:00:41,867 Speaker 3: Of the world. 14 00:00:43,787 --> 00:00:48,027 Speaker 2: Having competed at the last five Olympic Games in flatwater rowing, 15 00:00:48,027 --> 00:00:51,427 Speaker 2: winning golden Tokyo and twenty twenty one and silver in 16 00:00:51,547 --> 00:00:54,867 Speaker 2: Paris in twenty twenty four, Emma Twig is on track 17 00:00:54,907 --> 00:00:59,387 Speaker 2: to represent US in coastal rowing in La twenty twenty eight, 18 00:00:59,467 --> 00:01:02,147 Speaker 2: with the event being included in the Games for the 19 00:01:02,267 --> 00:01:05,267 Speaker 2: very first time. Emma Twig is with US. Congratulations Emma 20 00:01:05,267 --> 00:01:08,787 Speaker 2: on your win in Turkey. Did you expect to become 21 00:01:09,307 --> 00:01:10,707 Speaker 2: a world champion this year? 22 00:01:11,507 --> 00:01:13,627 Speaker 3: To be honest, I didn't. It's been a bit of 23 00:01:13,667 --> 00:01:15,987 Speaker 3: a rough year in and out of the boat. So 24 00:01:16,547 --> 00:01:19,587 Speaker 3: to come away with a world title was pretty unexpected, 25 00:01:20,027 --> 00:01:21,827 Speaker 3: but you know, you've got to take the winds when 26 00:01:21,867 --> 00:01:22,507 Speaker 3: they come your way. 27 00:01:22,827 --> 00:01:26,227 Speaker 2: What were the challenges that you've faced in twenty twenty five. 28 00:01:27,507 --> 00:01:30,627 Speaker 3: Oh, I've had all sorts of kind of illness and injury. 29 00:01:31,307 --> 00:01:33,387 Speaker 3: I had a bit of dingy fever after a little 30 00:01:33,387 --> 00:01:36,347 Speaker 3: bit of a holiday to Raratonga, and then not long 31 00:01:36,347 --> 00:01:38,707 Speaker 3: before leaving, I had a bit of a flexor issue. 32 00:01:38,707 --> 00:01:41,147 Speaker 3: So the old bod is literally an old bod hanging 33 00:01:41,187 --> 00:01:44,107 Speaker 3: on for dear life. And yeah, just it all seemed 34 00:01:44,107 --> 00:01:45,147 Speaker 3: to come together in Turkey. 35 00:01:45,267 --> 00:01:47,867 Speaker 2: Yeah, well it seems to still be doing the job. 36 00:01:48,187 --> 00:01:51,507 Speaker 2: Tell us about the specifics of your event. How long's 37 00:01:51,547 --> 00:01:53,267 Speaker 2: the race? How is it structured? 38 00:01:54,267 --> 00:01:56,667 Speaker 3: Yes, it's a really cool event. It's a new la, 39 00:01:56,787 --> 00:01:59,627 Speaker 3: new discipline, never been at the Olympics before. Basically World 40 00:01:59,667 --> 00:02:01,987 Speaker 3: rowing have decided that they need to get more eyes 41 00:02:02,027 --> 00:02:03,867 Speaker 3: on the sport and kind of diversify and make it 42 00:02:03,867 --> 00:02:08,067 Speaker 3: a bit more exciting. So beach sprint was kind of concocted, 43 00:02:08,147 --> 00:02:10,667 Speaker 3: I guess about three years ago. It's a bit like 44 00:02:10,707 --> 00:02:13,787 Speaker 3: the BMX or kind of T twenty of cricket. I've 45 00:02:13,787 --> 00:02:16,267 Speaker 3: shortened the race to turn five hundred meter race two 46 00:02:16,347 --> 00:02:19,347 Speaker 3: hudred and fifty meters out around a turning boy one 47 00:02:19,427 --> 00:02:22,147 Speaker 3: hundred and eighty degree turned back to the beach. You've 48 00:02:22,147 --> 00:02:24,667 Speaker 3: got to run down the beach, jump into a boat, 49 00:02:24,827 --> 00:02:28,267 Speaker 3: go through a slalom course, and then obviously navigate your 50 00:02:28,427 --> 00:02:30,227 Speaker 3: way back to the beach, jump out of the boat, 51 00:02:30,227 --> 00:02:31,947 Speaker 3: and run up and jump on a buzzer. So there's 52 00:02:31,987 --> 00:02:34,787 Speaker 3: a lot that can go wrong, but that makes it 53 00:02:34,827 --> 00:02:37,107 Speaker 3: really exciting. And it's essentially done in kind of like 54 00:02:37,107 --> 00:02:41,107 Speaker 3: an emphatheaist style stadium and you're sitting watching the entire 55 00:02:41,187 --> 00:02:43,987 Speaker 3: race unfold right in front of you, So it's pretty cool. 56 00:02:44,227 --> 00:02:46,507 Speaker 2: So how long does each race take? 57 00:02:47,947 --> 00:02:49,907 Speaker 3: So it's about a turn and a half to three 58 00:02:49,947 --> 00:02:52,387 Speaker 3: minute race, depending on you know, with how rough it 59 00:02:52,467 --> 00:02:54,747 Speaker 3: is in the conditions. One of the races is a 60 00:02:54,947 --> 00:02:58,267 Speaker 3: time trial format, so it's just slightly longer than the 61 00:02:58,627 --> 00:03:02,387 Speaker 3: straight head head sprint. So it's about a third of 62 00:03:02,427 --> 00:03:03,987 Speaker 3: what a normal rowing race would be. 63 00:03:04,267 --> 00:03:04,667 Speaker 1: Wow. 64 00:03:05,027 --> 00:03:09,107 Speaker 2: And so it's it's spacey, as you say, it's a 65 00:03:09,147 --> 00:03:13,307 Speaker 2: hard out, sort of octane filled version of rowing. How 66 00:03:13,347 --> 00:03:18,107 Speaker 2: different is coastal rowing compared to rowing on flat water? 67 00:03:19,267 --> 00:03:22,787 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's pretty drastically different in terms of the actual 68 00:03:22,947 --> 00:03:26,067 Speaker 3: the stroke that you're taking in the movement, it's very similar. 69 00:03:26,067 --> 00:03:28,147 Speaker 3: You're still in a rowing boat, but the boats are 70 00:03:28,147 --> 00:03:31,627 Speaker 3: completely different that a much bigger boat, much heavier. You 71 00:03:31,707 --> 00:03:33,547 Speaker 3: kind of show up at the regetter and you've got 72 00:03:33,547 --> 00:03:34,947 Speaker 3: to use what's in front of you, So you get 73 00:03:34,987 --> 00:03:37,147 Speaker 3: three minutes in between each race to figure out all 74 00:03:37,187 --> 00:03:39,987 Speaker 3: your settings. You've got people holding the boats for you 75 00:03:40,067 --> 00:03:44,187 Speaker 3: boat handers. Yeah, So it's just it's a completely different 76 00:03:44,747 --> 00:03:47,187 Speaker 3: set up in terms of what you're experiencing on the water, 77 00:03:47,867 --> 00:03:50,387 Speaker 3: and then obviously a different energy system because it's much 78 00:03:50,427 --> 00:03:53,427 Speaker 3: higher intensity for a short period. But the difference is 79 00:03:53,627 --> 00:03:56,427 Speaker 3: the thing that makes it similar to the seven minute 80 00:03:56,507 --> 00:03:58,987 Speaker 3: race and flat water is that you're backing up race 81 00:03:59,147 --> 00:04:01,947 Speaker 3: after race within ten minutes, so you're doing essentially three 82 00:04:02,067 --> 00:04:05,187 Speaker 3: races within kind of a twenty minute period. So you 83 00:04:05,187 --> 00:04:07,627 Speaker 3: still need a certain amount of endurance as well, and. 84 00:04:07,547 --> 00:04:09,867 Speaker 2: Of course you're turning as well, which you don't do 85 00:04:10,307 --> 00:04:13,187 Speaker 2: on flat water. How important is turning at the boy? 86 00:04:13,987 --> 00:04:16,107 Speaker 3: Yeah, the navigation is massive. You've got to do a 87 00:04:16,147 --> 00:04:17,827 Speaker 3: slalom out, so you've got to keep your eyes on 88 00:04:17,867 --> 00:04:20,147 Speaker 3: the boy, and obviously in a rowing boat, you're going backwards, 89 00:04:20,147 --> 00:04:22,747 Speaker 3: so that can be challenging, and then you've got to 90 00:04:22,747 --> 00:04:24,827 Speaker 3: turn around one hundred and eighty degrees at the top mark, 91 00:04:24,867 --> 00:04:26,627 Speaker 3: and a lot of that is, you know, forces that 92 00:04:26,627 --> 00:04:28,347 Speaker 3: we're not used to in a flat water boat. There's 93 00:04:28,387 --> 00:04:30,427 Speaker 3: a lot of push rather than pull because you're kind 94 00:04:30,467 --> 00:04:33,587 Speaker 3: of pulling against each arm. I guess you get round 95 00:04:33,667 --> 00:04:35,467 Speaker 3: around the boy and then you've got to line the 96 00:04:35,507 --> 00:04:38,147 Speaker 3: boy up and go the fastest around it that you can. 97 00:04:38,267 --> 00:04:40,307 Speaker 3: So it can make a massive difference. You can be 98 00:04:40,587 --> 00:04:42,627 Speaker 3: you know, a link down coming into the boy and 99 00:04:42,667 --> 00:04:44,107 Speaker 3: then come out of it a lenk up if you 100 00:04:44,147 --> 00:04:45,507 Speaker 3: get it right and someone gets it wrong. 101 00:04:45,827 --> 00:04:48,027 Speaker 2: So just for clarity, are you both turning at the 102 00:04:48,067 --> 00:04:50,187 Speaker 2: same boy or are there two boys out there? 103 00:04:50,787 --> 00:04:53,347 Speaker 3: So there's the courses at two lanes. It's head not 104 00:04:53,507 --> 00:04:56,747 Speaker 3: out racing. So there's three boys that line the course, 105 00:04:56,787 --> 00:04:59,187 Speaker 3: one being the top boy, the middle boys the slalom, 106 00:04:59,227 --> 00:05:01,227 Speaker 3: and then the start boy. And so you've got two 107 00:05:01,267 --> 00:05:04,067 Speaker 3: courses side by side. You're racing someone head to head. 108 00:05:04,707 --> 00:05:06,467 Speaker 2: Are you sort of learning this as you go? How 109 00:05:06,507 --> 00:05:08,307 Speaker 2: are you picking up things every time you do this? 110 00:05:09,307 --> 00:05:12,827 Speaker 3: Oh? Absolutely, Like a week before we raced in Turkey. 111 00:05:12,947 --> 00:05:15,427 Speaker 3: We've kind of been refining how to get into a 112 00:05:15,467 --> 00:05:17,227 Speaker 3: boat because there's a lot to it. You've got to 113 00:05:17,267 --> 00:05:19,187 Speaker 3: sprint down the beach, but slow down and then jump 114 00:05:19,187 --> 00:05:20,867 Speaker 3: in a boat and you've got a moving seat, and 115 00:05:20,867 --> 00:05:23,467 Speaker 3: there's just a lot going on. So we've been watching 116 00:05:23,467 --> 00:05:24,867 Speaker 3: what the rest of the world has been doing, and 117 00:05:25,067 --> 00:05:27,827 Speaker 3: we're a little bit of a disadvantage because the Europeans 118 00:05:27,827 --> 00:05:29,867 Speaker 3: get to race a bit more than we do, so 119 00:05:29,907 --> 00:05:32,187 Speaker 3: there's a lot of video analysis going on of what 120 00:05:32,227 --> 00:05:35,187 Speaker 3: our competitors are doing. And we essentially taught ourselves a 121 00:05:35,187 --> 00:05:38,947 Speaker 3: little bunny hot really before this regetter, so there's a 122 00:05:38,947 --> 00:05:40,547 Speaker 3: lot of low hanging fruit for. 123 00:05:40,547 --> 00:05:43,747 Speaker 2: Us to still find rerilliant. So have you committed Emma 124 00:05:43,787 --> 00:05:46,827 Speaker 2: to LA twenty twenty eight. 125 00:05:48,147 --> 00:05:49,987 Speaker 3: In a sense, I guess I have. I've committed to 126 00:05:50,827 --> 00:05:54,107 Speaker 3: keep obviously pushing the boundaries. 127 00:05:54,227 --> 00:05:55,427 Speaker 2: My aim of. 128 00:05:55,827 --> 00:05:57,707 Speaker 3: Starting in the sport was to kind of, I guess, 129 00:05:57,707 --> 00:06:00,227 Speaker 3: reinvigorate and do something a bit different and something that 130 00:06:00,267 --> 00:06:03,667 Speaker 3: was a bit challenging, and it's worked out well this year, 131 00:06:03,667 --> 00:06:05,507 Speaker 3: so I'll give it another go next year. But you know, 132 00:06:05,547 --> 00:06:08,147 Speaker 3: I just hope that more and more people will get 133 00:06:08,147 --> 00:06:10,147 Speaker 3: into the sport. I think it's got an amazing future 134 00:06:10,187 --> 00:06:13,787 Speaker 3: and if it's still me winning in LA then I'd 135 00:06:13,827 --> 00:06:16,067 Speaker 3: love to be there. And equally, if someone has surpassed 136 00:06:16,107 --> 00:06:17,627 Speaker 3: me by that stage, then that would be a real 137 00:06:17,667 --> 00:06:19,907 Speaker 3: win for the sport as well. So obviously I'm going 138 00:06:19,987 --> 00:06:23,267 Speaker 3: to try my absolute best, but yeah, we'll see. You know, 139 00:06:23,387 --> 00:06:25,147 Speaker 3: three years seems to be a long way away when 140 00:06:25,147 --> 00:06:27,307 Speaker 3: you're at my age, or. 141 00:06:27,227 --> 00:06:30,467 Speaker 2: At any age, I would say, do you still get 142 00:06:30,667 --> 00:06:32,827 Speaker 2: a buzz from the grind of it all? You know 143 00:06:32,867 --> 00:06:34,467 Speaker 2: that because you can't just jump on the boat and 144 00:06:34,507 --> 00:06:36,467 Speaker 2: do it, You've still got a train and everything like that. 145 00:06:36,547 --> 00:06:39,227 Speaker 2: Do you still does that still invigorate you? 146 00:06:40,267 --> 00:06:43,267 Speaker 3: Yeah? I think the amazing thing about this new venture 147 00:06:43,267 --> 00:06:45,347 Speaker 3: for me is that it's the same thing, but it's 148 00:06:45,387 --> 00:06:48,627 Speaker 3: completely different. So it's for me, you know, spending hours 149 00:06:48,627 --> 00:06:50,267 Speaker 3: and hours in a flat water boat like I have 150 00:06:50,347 --> 00:06:52,987 Speaker 3: done for the last twenty years wasn't really appealing, but 151 00:06:53,067 --> 00:06:55,867 Speaker 3: this is a different kind of energy system. I've been 152 00:06:55,867 --> 00:06:57,867 Speaker 3: able to do lots on the erg and on a 153 00:06:57,907 --> 00:06:59,707 Speaker 3: bike and in the gym and just be surrounded by 154 00:06:59,747 --> 00:07:02,427 Speaker 3: different people, and then adding the elements of the ocean 155 00:07:02,467 --> 00:07:05,147 Speaker 3: and being by the sea and figure boats it's just 156 00:07:05,267 --> 00:07:08,107 Speaker 3: it's really kind of I guess it's extended my career 157 00:07:08,187 --> 00:07:10,267 Speaker 3: in a way that I never thought would be possible, 158 00:07:10,507 --> 00:07:12,627 Speaker 3: and I'm loving it. So while I'm loving it, I'll 159 00:07:12,667 --> 00:07:13,387 Speaker 3: keep chipping away. 160 00:07:13,667 --> 00:07:15,547 Speaker 2: How long is the actual sort of sprinting on the 161 00:07:15,587 --> 00:07:19,067 Speaker 2: sand but at each end of the race, Oh. 162 00:07:18,787 --> 00:07:21,587 Speaker 3: Not very long. It's enough to get up to speed 163 00:07:21,627 --> 00:07:24,307 Speaker 3: and then have to slow down again, So it's probably 164 00:07:24,347 --> 00:07:26,907 Speaker 3: I think the limit they can have is about fifty meters. 165 00:07:26,947 --> 00:07:27,667 Speaker 2: Got Yeah, thank you. 166 00:07:27,867 --> 00:07:30,947 Speaker 3: I'm definitely not calling upon Zoe Hobbs for for any 167 00:07:31,027 --> 00:07:35,227 Speaker 3: kind of long distance sprinting, but yeah, a few pointers 168 00:07:35,267 --> 00:07:36,067 Speaker 3: wouldn't go astray. 169 00:07:36,587 --> 00:07:39,387 Speaker 2: Amazing. Well, it's just awesome watching you become a world 170 00:07:39,467 --> 00:07:42,187 Speaker 2: champion in Turkey last weekend, Emma, and great to know 171 00:07:42,227 --> 00:07:44,067 Speaker 2: that it's something that at least you'll be giving a 172 00:07:44,107 --> 00:07:45,787 Speaker 2: bit of dedication to over the next little while to 173 00:07:45,787 --> 00:07:47,827 Speaker 2: see where it takes you. So are you going to 174 00:07:47,827 --> 00:07:50,107 Speaker 2: get a break over the summer or actually is summer 175 00:07:50,467 --> 00:07:52,747 Speaker 2: kind of in season for you? What will the next 176 00:07:52,747 --> 00:07:53,387 Speaker 2: few months hold? 177 00:07:54,227 --> 00:07:56,987 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, we've actually got a five series of five 178 00:07:57,027 --> 00:08:00,507 Speaker 3: regattas new this year for beach sprints, and that kicks 179 00:08:00,507 --> 00:08:02,187 Speaker 3: off in a week or so. I won't be doing 180 00:08:02,387 --> 00:08:04,107 Speaker 3: the first one, but I hope to get to the rest. 181 00:08:04,307 --> 00:08:08,347 Speaker 3: And yeah, it's a balance of just having some time 182 00:08:08,827 --> 00:08:11,187 Speaker 3: with my son and now coming having been away for 183 00:08:11,187 --> 00:08:14,227 Speaker 3: a couple of weeks and enjoying the summer. But yeah, 184 00:08:14,267 --> 00:08:16,347 Speaker 3: now I guess we've got a goal of the next 185 00:08:16,387 --> 00:08:19,707 Speaker 3: World Chancellor in China, so it will be interesting outstanding. 186 00:08:19,707 --> 00:08:22,267 Speaker 2: Well again, congratulations Emma, thank you for joining us, and 187 00:08:22,267 --> 00:08:23,507 Speaker 2: all the best for the next little while. 188 00:08:23,627 --> 00:08:24,267 Speaker 3: Thanks so much. 189 00:08:24,427 --> 00:08:28,227 Speaker 2: That's Emma Twig world champion and the women's solo event 190 00:08:28,227 --> 00:08:31,547 Speaker 2: at the World Rome Beach Sprint Finals and Turkey last weekend. 191 00:08:31,627 --> 00:08:34,627 Speaker 2: Yet it's a new and very exciting form of rowing 192 00:08:34,667 --> 00:08:37,787 Speaker 2: which will make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles and 193 00:08:37,867 --> 00:08:39,747 Speaker 2: twenty twenty eight. And well, by the sounds of it, 194 00:08:39,747 --> 00:08:42,987 Speaker 2: Emma Twig is very very keen to be our representative. 195 00:08:43,027 --> 00:08:45,387 Speaker 2: Interesting to hear I say though as well, and very 196 00:08:45,427 --> 00:08:48,227 Speaker 2: Emma twigged this. Look, if it's me, great, If it's not, 197 00:08:48,267 --> 00:08:50,867 Speaker 2: then that's great for the sport. It'll have to be 198 00:08:50,907 --> 00:08:55,667 Speaker 2: some fairly talented athlete who knocks Emma Twig off that perch. 199 00:08:55,747 --> 00:09:00,107 Speaker 1: I would imagine for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. 200 00:09:00,227 --> 00:09:03,507 Speaker 1: Listen live to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, 201 00:09:03,787 --> 00:09:05,867 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio