Caroline_Evers-Swindell

Caroline Evers-Swindell

Caroline Evers-Swindell

New Zealand rower

Caroline Frances Meyer ONZM (born 10 October 1978), better known under her maiden name Caroline Evers-Swindell, is a New Zealand former rower. She competed in the double sculls with her identical twin sister Georgina Evers-Swindell. In November 2005 she and her sister were named Rowing Female Crew of the Year by the International Rowing Federation (FISA), and in 2016 they became the first New Zealanders to be awarded the federation's highest award, the Thomas Keller Medal.[1]

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Early life

Meyer was born in Hastings, New Zealand, on 10 October 1978.[2] She grew up on an orchard, and attended a Steiner School.[2]

Career

The twins narrowly missed the qualification for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney; in the crucial race in Lucerne where they had to come second in order to qualify, they came third.[3] In 2001, she won silver at the World Championships in both the double and quadruple sculls. Together with her sister she won gold at both the 2002 and 2003 World Rowing Championships in the double sculls. She also won, again with her sister, the 2004 Olympic gold medal. Caroline was coached by Dick Tonks and represented Hamilton Rowing Club.[citation needed]

In the 2005 New Year Honours, she was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rowing.[4]

At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, she and her sister won gold medals in the women's double sculls, beating the German double by 1/100 of a second, 7:07.32 versus 7:07.33.[5] This was the first time in history that the women's double scull title had successfully been defended.[6] She and her sister announced their retirement from rowing in October 2008.[7]

In December 2008, she and her sister won the Lonsdale Cup which is awarded by the New Zealand Olympic Committee to the athlete/s who make the most outstanding contribution to an Olympic sport. They previously won the cup in 2003.[8]

Personal life

In December 2009, Evers-Swindell married former Olympic rower Carl Meyer.[9] She now styles herself Caroline Meyer.[10]

References

  1. [1]
    "Olympic champion Kiwi twins honoured with prestigious award from World Rowing". Stuff. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 21 May 2016.
  2. [2]
    Alderson, Andrew. "NZ's Greatest Olympians – Caroline Meyer and Georgina Earl". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  3. [3]
    "Caroline Meyer". New Zealand Olympic Committee. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  4. [4]
    New Year Honours List 2005. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  5. [5]
    Saturday's Olympic Rowing Results[permanent dead link], Associated Press, 16 August 2008. Accessed 23 August 2008.
  6. [6]
    "Olympics: Twins carry flag at spectacular closing ceremony". The New Zealand Herald. 25 August 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  7. [7]
    "Evers-Swindell twins announce retirement". Stuff. 9 October 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  8. [8]
    "Retired rowing twins awarded Lonsdale Cup". Stuff. 18 December 2008. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  9. [9]
    Rushworth, Anna (13 December 2009). "Golden girl follows sister down the aisle". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  10. [10]
    Tapaleao, Vaimoana (5 February 2010). "Halberg Awards: Twins top the sporting decade". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 23 September 2011.

Sources

  • Butcher, Margot (2010). Golden Girls: Celebrating New Zealand's six female Olympic gold medallists. Auckland, NZ: HarperSports/HarperCollins. pp. 84–105. ISBN 978-1-86950-892-0.
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