Olympic rowing champion Emma Twigg: “I am who I am and life doesn't change a hell of a lot because of my sexuality”
Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Emma Twigg does not beat around the bush.
"I’m a fairly black and white person," the rower tells Olympics.com from her hotel room in Pusiano, near Lake Como, Italy. The 37-year-old is currently in a phase she’s experienced many times before: crunch time.
"I'm in the thick of it now," Twigg says. "This is one of the most important months. It's our last really big training block where all the speed work and all the race sprint happens. It's exciting to be in this phase, but also a little bit daunting as well, because every day you’ve got to be on.
At the Olympic Games Paris 2024, she’ll line up for her fifth, and she puts it, likely last Olympics.
"I would say likely my last, because you never know what's in the future," says the Kiwi.
The down-to-earth New Zealander has had a storied career, finishing fourth at two Olympics with back-to-back heartbreakingly close podium misses in London 2012 and Rio 2016. She got her golden moment three years ago in Tokyo, though, and now has the task of defending her single sculls crown in Paris.
"Some would say that there's a lot of pressure that comes with being the reigning Olympic champion, but at the end of the day you're still trying to achieve the same thing. Still trying to race fast down the rowing track," Twigg explains.
Identity: Emma Twigg comfortable in her own skin
Twigg’s efforts on the water, as an Olympic champion and seven-time World Championship medal winner don’t reflect the plethora of skills she has in her arsenal off the water.
She’s a marriage celebrant, cycle mechanic, holds a FIFA Master in Management, Law and Humanities of Sport degree, and is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM), as well as being a wife to Charlotte and mother to two-year-old Tommy.
She's also been a shining light when it comes to living an unapologetically authentic life as an out-and-proud woman.
"As as a young rower, I never wanted to be known as the gay rower. I wanted to be known as an exceptional athlete. As I’ve gone on I think that talking about my sexuality has become more important because I reflect on the fact that I have a platform and a profile and I can help people. And so I think the more it's talked about, the more stories that are out there the better." - Emma Twigg
When the topic of June being Pride Month is mentioned, Twigg doesn’t give too much away. It's not something she celebrates likes Christmas, but she respects it greatly.
"When we don't have to talk about pride, we're probably in a great place because you're accepting everyone for who they are," she says.
Yes, she’s proud to be a gay athlete, but she’s quick to acknowledge she’s more than any label, the same way she feels celebrating pride is more than just celebrating a particular set of days each year.
"I've always had the approach that you just be who you are and that story is told through the fact that I have a wife and a child and the discussion that we're having, that's me being open about who I am and who I married and my life. Those are the stories that I think young people that are struggling with their sexuality will pick up on.
"But in saying that, I think it's really important that we have those conversations and Pride Month is hugely important in making safe spaces for all people," Twigg elaborates.
"I just recently became an ambassador for Pride House in Paris, which is really cool. Hopefully we'll get there and be able to do some stuff with them. Other than seeing it on social media I wouldn't know in the calendar year what month is Pride Month.
"I am who I am and life doesn't change a hell of a lot because of my sexuality. That's a really privileged position to be in because it's not the same for everyone, which is why it is important to keep talking about it and to keep pushing boundaries - just as it is to have female representation in different government positions. There's all sorts of things that we can keep championing.”
In many ways it seems Twigg is trying to be the role model she never had as a young athlete, after we asked if she had a gay role model growing up.
"Not really to be honest and I wish I did. Not especially not in rowing. Beijing 2008 is quite a long time ago now and I think as time has gone on, there's been more and more people, women in particular, talking about their sexuality.
"I wish I had that when I was a bit younger. It may have helped me out in those kind of earlier years to have people like that around.
"That's why I like to kind of be visible now because hopefully there's, you know, 15, 16, 17-year-olds out there that can kind of feel like life is normal.
"Everyone has different backgrounds, different struggles, different challenges, but there is a role model for everyone that is going through something similar. I think the more we talk about a diverse range of people and stories the better that is for young people. They will then, kind of find their hero and if I can be a hero, then that's cool."
The final countdown: Paris 2024
With the clock ticking down until race day, Twigg is acutely aware that time is of the essence.
"I'm trying to kind of almost put the handbrake on a little bit because this is the last five weeks essentially.
"In this period every session you do is super important and you need to be present to do it well," she says.
Having won gold in empathic style - nearly three and a half seconds clear of the silver medallist - she knows what it takes to finish first at the biggest show on earth. But this Games build-up feels different because she’s uncertain if she’ll ever be in this position again.
"That’s the mindset that I've taken. This isn't going to happen again for me, so I’m enjoying it. But it's funny to think that this is like probably the last really intensive Pre-Olympic workout. It’s sad and exciting. Sad from the perspective that it's a really unique time and just this level of focus I don't think I'll probably ever have is anything else that I will do." - Emma Twigg
"I probably appreciate it more five Olympic cycles down the track, but then it’s exciting because the last part, this is where the kind of magic happens. Also I think retirement is going to bring lots of exciting stuff as well," Twigg says with a smile on her face.
Before that happens though, she’s got a tall task in front of her - defending her Olympic crown. Twigg hopes to be just the second woman to defend the single sculls title, following Ekaterina Karsten of Belarus who achieved this at Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.
"I watched Mahe Drysdale (two-time Olympic single sculls champion) talk about me on the news recently and how sitting on the start line and knowing that you're the only one in the race that knows how to win it or has won one. It's quite a cool thing to think about.
"For sure it’s my title to defend, but you can't really control what the rest of the world is doing, you can only control you racing your fastest race.
"And that's what this kind of time now is about, is preparing myself so that I can be in a position to defend that title. And hopefully enjoy the experience along the way," the Kiwi says.
How to watch rowing at Paris 2024
Paris 2024's rowing competition will take place over eight days from 27 July to 3 August. See the full schedule.
For more insight into the sport and it's history read here.