Bobbie left the Olympic champ in the dust—earning herself a pair of socks, a new fan, and a whole lot of respect.
Impressed by her raw speed and talent, Michael reached out to the school’s Rowing Manager. That moment kickstarted something incredible. Bobbie was soon invited to cox at the NZ Beach Sprint Championships at Orewa Beach, racing alongside New Zealand’s elite—including Olympic gold medalist Emma Twigg.
And it didn’t stop there. When Emma couldn’t cox, Bobbie stepped up to lead the King’s College U17 coxed quad sculls team—bringing home gold!
Then came a surprise twist: Mike and Bobbie discovered they both whakapapa to Ngāti Porou and are actually distant cousins!
From a car park race to national medals and unexpected family ties—this is a story of speed, spirit, and serendipity.