How do you define greatness? A mind-bending feat that surpasses expectation and rationality? A moment of authentic surprise that inverts the weight of pressing odds? Or perhaps an incision in the linear unfurling of your heart?
In sport, we are quick to anoint greatness upon each other. A performance that impresses us is often bestowed the virtue of greatness before it can even truly be understood. It is easy to attach brilliance onto bravery and boldness but sometimes the two should not be conflated. True greatness should combine mastery, magnanimity and more than a hint of magic.
The Olympic Games is our ultimate magic show. A procession of truly elite talent, operating at the pinnacle of their sport and thrust forward into a limelight fostered by four years of relative translucency. These two weeks are stitched into the very fabric of competition, dating back to the lore of Ancient Greece, and have transcended the politics of modern society to become the ultimate marker in sporting excellence. To win Olympic Gold gives you immortality of a rare and timeless specification – your story will be perpetuated forevermore, carried forward by the whispers of generations to come, who too aim to climb those sacred steps and join this club of champions. Emerging over the horizon, this time in the blue and red hue of palatial Paris, we are ready for the very fastest in rowing to be crowned.
Step forward, my friends – The Olympic Games have come.
The Stats
Country
New Zealand
Crew Names
Shannon Cox (B)
Jackie Kiddle (S)
Average Age
28 years
Olympic Record
N/A
2024 Competitive Record
World Rowing Cup 1: N/A
World Rowing Cup 2: 2nd (LW2x)
World Rowing Cup 3: 1st (LW2x
European Championships: N/A
The Profile
New Zealand were the last country other than Great Britain to win the world championships in this category, taking the title in 2019. Jackie Kiddle was in that boat, with partner Zoe McBride, a pairing that also won world championship silver in 2017. However, with McBride retiring from international rowing after winning the world championships, Kiddle formed a new partnership with Rachael Kennedy, but that combo failed to connect and finished 2022 in ninth. Last season, Kiddle was paired with Shannon Cox, making her debut on the international team, and they made the A-Final at both the final World Rowing Cup and the world championships. This season, they’ve shown significant improvement in their speed, finishing ahead of the Americans to take silver at the Lucerne World Rowing Cup and then winning gold at the final World Rowing Cup (in the absence of their main rivals).
About The Author
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