Caroline Evers-Swindell

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]

Caroline Evers-Swindell
ONZM
Evers-Swindell in 2009
Personal information
Birth nameCaroline Frances Evers-Swindell
Full nameCaroline Frances Meyer
Born (1978-10-10) 10 October 1978
Hastings, New Zealand
Height178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight76 kg (168 lb)
Spouse(s)Carl Meyer
Sport
SportRowing
ClubHamilton Rowing Club
Hawkes Bay Rowing Club
Medal record
Women's rowing
Representing  New Zealand
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 2 0 0
World Championships 3 3 1
Total 5 3 1
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2004 Athens Double sculls
Gold medal – first place 2008 Beijing Double sculls
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2002 SevilleDouble sculls
Gold medal – first place2003 MilanDouble sculls
Gold medal – first place2005 GifuDouble sculls
Silver medal – second place2001 LucerneDouble sculls
Silver medal – second place2001 LucerneQuadruple sculls
Silver medal – second place2007 MunichDouble sculls
Bronze medal – third place2006 EtonDouble sculls

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.

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