Olympic champion rower Emma Twigg trains up-and-coming Taranaki rowers in Waitara

Olympic gold medalist Emma Twigge inspired the next generation of young rowers at the Clifton Rowing Club in Waitara on Sunday.

About 20 people, club members, parents and young rowers, were at the club in the morning to hear Twigge, who won the ski title at the Tokyo Olympics last year, tell stories about her rowing career, ask her questions and close up look at her Olympic medal.

Then they went out on the water for a workout.

As a young rower, Twigge said she was inspired by the Evers-Swindell twins, Caroline and Georgina, who won Olympic gold in Athens and Beijing.

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And now she’s the one thing young rowers look up to, and that’s “discouraging.”

”But I love it. That’s part of the motivation to try so hard and be successful. I feel like it’s a big responsibility, but one that I love.”

And seeing New Zealanders win internationally is inspiring a new generation of young Kiwis to take up the sport.

“There was a real revival around the era of the twins and Rod Waddell and hopefully another one will come with the Tokyo successes.”

The training with Twigge came about after the club had won a national competition. It will also get a new paint job as the Dulux sponsored competition featured $3000 worth of paint.

Clifton Rowing Club coach and former New Zealand rower Jason Williams said they had 26 rowers at the club last season, mostly schoolchildren, and would like to see more.

“But it’s a tough sport, you have to train every day.”

On September 10, the club will be holding an open day, where everyone is welcome to come and have a look and have a try.

“They can see if the sport is for them.”