Reigning World Champion Emma Twigg Sidelined by Injury, Withdraws from New Zealand's US Beach Sprint Tour

Reigning World Rowing Beach Sprint champion Emma Twigg has been sidelined by an undisclosed injury, forcing her withdrawal from New Zealand's high-stakes coastal rowing tour of the United States. The two-time Olympic flatwater medallist was slated to anchor the national squad during a pivotal training block in Los Angeles and an international regatta in Boston.[1][2]

Twigg's absence marks a temporary pause in what has been a dominant transition from traditional flatwater racing to the dynamic environment of coastal rowing. After winning gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and silver in Paris 2024, she captured the 2025 World Beach Sprint title and recently swept the Open Women's Solo and Mixed Double events at the 2026 Rowing NZ Beach Sprint Championships.[1][2]

In her place, emerging talent Holly Chaafe will step into the Women's Solo seat for the American leg of the campaign. Twigg is now shifting her focus entirely to rehabilitation, targeting a return to the water in time to defend her global crown at the 2026 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Qingdao, China, scheduled for mid-October.[1][3]

The North American tour carries significant strategic weight for the New Zealand program. The squad's first stop is a training camp in Los Angeles, allowing the athletes to gather critical data and experience at the exact beach venue slated to host the discipline's Olympic debut at the LA 2028 Games.[1][4]

Training at the actual Olympic water in Los Angeles provides a tangible advantage that few nations will be able to replicate this early in the cycle, underscoring the deliberate investment national federations are making as coastal rowing expands globally. Following the California camp, the team will travel to Boston to test their speed against top-tier international crews, including the United States.[1][2][5]

The physical toll of coastal rowing differs markedly from the predictable mechanics of flatwater racing. A 2026 sports medicine review highlighted that beach sprints present a distinct injury profile, combining the traditional lower-back and rib stressors of rowing with the chaotic impacts of crashing waves and explosive sand running. Navigating the surf zone requires rapid, asymmetrical force application, which can expose athletes to new biomechanical vulnerabilities.[6]

Despite the setback to their star athlete, the New Zealand squad remains formidable. Matthew Dunham, the 2023 World Beach Sprint champion in the mixed double, will contest the Men's Solo. He brings proven pedigree to the international stage, having recently defended his national title in the discipline.[1][2]

The Mixed Double will feature Erin James and Sebastian Fulton, a pairing that has already demonstrated elite speed. James, who returned to international competition after a 17-year hiatus, and Fulton narrowly missed the national title earlier this year, finishing just 0.4 seconds behind Twigg and her partner Mike Brake.[1][2]

As the sport accelerates toward its 2028 Olympic integration, the depth of national rosters is being tested. For New Zealand, Twigg's injury provides an unexpected stress test of that depth, offering Chaafe invaluable international exposure while the reigning champion works to ensure her body is ready for the ultimate test in Qingdao.[1][2][4]