Emma Twigg

Emma Twigg is a New Zealand rower who became the first woman from her country to win Olympic gold in the single scull. A five-time Olympian, she has built a career defined by resilience, twice retiring from the sport and twice returning to reach the top of the podium. Her gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games, held in 2021, came after two fourth-place finishes at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, making the victory a powerful culmination of years of persistence.

Beyond her athletic achievements, Twigg is an openly gay athlete and a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports. She married her partner Charlotte in 2020, and the couple welcomed a son in 2024. As of 2026, Twigg is shifting her focus to coastal rowing, with her sights set on a sixth Olympic appearance at the Los Angeles 2028 Games. [edit]

Emma Twigg grew up in Napier, New Zealand, in a family where rowing was a way of life. Her father, Bruce Twigg, competed in the 1976 Montreal Olympics, and his legacy inspired Emma to take up the sport at age 12. She trained at the Napier Rowing Club, quickly showing promise in junior competitions.

After high school, Twigg moved to Christchurch to attend the University of Canterbury, where she balanced her studies with elite training. Her senior international debut came in 2005, and she made her first Olympic team in 2008 for the Beijing Games. But the path was not smooth. Twigg was dropped from the national squad multiple times due to performance fluctuations and injuries, testing her mental toughness early on. These setbacks, though painful, forged the resilience that would later define her career. [edit]

Twigg's Olympic journey began with a ninth-place finish in Beijing in 2008. She narrowly missed the podium in London in 2012 and again in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, finishing fourth both times. After the Rio Games, she retired for the second time, but the pull of the water was too strong. She returned to training in 2018, and by 2019 she was back on the world stage, taking silver at the World Rowing Championships.

The breakthrough came at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, held in 2021, where Twigg won gold in the women's single scull, becoming the first New Zealand woman to do so. She added a silver at the Paris 2024 Games. In 2023, she reclaimed the world title in the single scull. Now, Twigg is pioneering a new chapter in coastal rowing, winning gold at the 2025 World Beach Sprint Championships and defending her national title in 2026, all while aiming for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. [edit]

Twigg is known for her no-nonsense, authentic demeanor. She speaks candidly about the mental health challenges of elite sport, which has endeared her to fans. As a prominent LGBTQ+ athlete, she has become a role model for the community, using her platform to advocate for inclusivity. While rowing lacks a traditional fandom, Twigg has a dedicated following among New Zealanders and the global LGBTQ+ sports community, who admire her resilience and openness. [edit]

Emma Twigg's fanbase is as straightforward as her rowing style: no formal name, no organized campaigns, no inside jokes. Her supporters are simply fans of New Zealand rowing and admirers of a career built on stubborn resilience. They follow her on Instagram (@twigg_emma) and Facebook, where she shares training updates and family moments, and they pack grandstands during Olympic cycles, but there's no fan club, no coordinated hashtag, no ritual beyond the standard roar of a crowd. Her openness about mental health and her journey as an openly gay athlete has earned her a devoted following within the LGBTQ+ sports community, who see her as a role model. She engages with them through candid interviews and speaking engagements, where she talks about resilience and inclusivity. When she retired from flatwater rowing after Paris 2024, her fans didn't disappear, they followed her into the new world of coastal and beach sprint rowing, cheering as she took double honours at the NZ Rowing Beach Sprint Championships in April 2026 and announced her aim for the LA 2028 Olympics.

As of August 2026, iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated Emma Twigg but she does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings, meaning she is not among the world's top 1,000 most famous people nor on any Top-100 scope list. Her fame remains national and niche, a reflection of the quiet world of rowing.[edit]

Twigg is one of the few athletes to win an Olympic medal after finishing fourth in three consecutive Games, a feat that seemed destined to define her until Tokyo 2020, when she finally broke through for gold. She has never missed a World Championship since her 2005 debut until her hiatus, competing in nine straight. Her father, Bruce Twigg, also an Olympian, makes them a notable rowing dynasty. Fans often refer to her journey as "The Comeback," a story that reached its apex in Tokyo. She holds ten New Zealand national titles across various rowing disciplines.

A legend that fans retell is her fourth-place heartbreak at London 2012 and Rio 2016, two agonizing near-misses that made her Tokyo gold all the more powerful. Another iconic moment came at Paris 2024, when she won silver in her fifth Olympics, with her wife Charlotte and their son watching from the stands; the image of her finishing her flatwater career surrounded by family became a poignant symbol of closure. More recently, she has pivoted to coastal and beach sprint rowing, a surprising move that has kept her in the headlines as she aims for LA 2028.[edit]

Emma Twigg's father, Bruce Twigg, was an Olympic rower, and his influence was pivotal in her career. She grew up in Napier with her family before moving to Christchurch for university. In 2019, Twigg came out as gay and announced her engagement to Charlotte; they married in 2020. The couple welcomed a son in 2024, who was seen supporting Twigg at the Paris Olympics. They live together in New Zealand, balancing family life with her continued training and competition. [edit]

Emma Twigg is associated with her wife Charlotte, her father Bruce Twigg, and her agent Kelly from Cultivate Group. She has also been linked with brands like Ford and ASB Bank through sponsorships. [edit]

Emma Twigg's public dating history is centered on her relationship with Charlotte. The couple met privately, and in February 2019, Twigg came out as gay and announced their engagement. They married in 2020. Their relationship has been praised for its authenticity and has made them a prominent LGBTQ+ couple in sports. In August 2024, they welcomed a son, who was present at the Paris Olympics. As of 2026, Twigg and Charlotte remain married and live together in New Zealand. [edit]

iFANN currently estimates Emma Twigg's net worth at $1 Million NZD. Her income stems from a combination of sponsorships, speaking engagements, and prize money. She has long-standing partnerships with brands such as Ford and ASB Bank, and she is a sought-after motivational speaker on topics like resilience and leadership. While rowing prize money is modest compared to other sports, her Olympic and World Championship medals have brought financial rewards. She also owns property in New Zealand, though its value is private.[edit]

Emma Twigg has won two Olympic medals, a gold in 2021 and a silver in 2024, both in the women's single scull. She has also claimed two World Championship titles, in 2014 and 2023, and a silver in 2019. Her achievements were recognized with an appointment as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. [edit]