Rowing: Champion twins win Lonsdale Cup

The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) today awarded the 2003 Lonsdale Cup to double world champion rowing twins Georgina and Caroline Evers-Swindell.

The NZOC presents the Lonsdale Cup annually to the athlete, or athletes, who make the most outstanding contribution to an Olympic or Commonwealth Games sport for the year.

The Evers-Swindell twins won their first world double sculls rowing title in Seville, Spain, in 2002, recording a world best time of 6min 38.78sec.

They successfully defended their world title in Milan, Italy this year and were also named female crew of the year by the International Rowing Federation, FISA.

In 2001 the twins won two world championship silver medals in the double sculls and quadruple sculls.

NZOC secretary general Barry Maister said that the twins were most deserving of the award.

"Georgina and Caroline have proved their class in the ultra competitive world of international rowing over the last three years. They have also shown themselves to be very humble human beings and a real asset to their sport," he said.

The Evers-Swindells become the fifth rowing recipient of the Lonsdale Cup following Brenda Lawson (1993), Chris White (1995), and Rob Waddell (1998 and 2000).

- NZPA