Nathan Twaddle

Nathan Twaddle retired in early 2011 with a record anyone would be proud of.

Twaddle was 34, and after finishing seventh in the men's quadruple scull at the world champs on Lake Karapiro in 2010, decided to retire after 10 years of top level competition rowing.

In the pairs boat Twaddle carved out a successful international career, starting with Rob Hellstrom in 2003, before teaming up with George Bridgewater to win the world championship title in 2005 at Gifu, Japan. The duo went on to take two more world championship silver medals, in 2006 at Eton and 2007 at Munich.

They won an Olympic bronze at Beijing in 2008, having finished fourth in the same event at the 2004 Athens Olympics. They were named Halberg Team of the Year in 2005.

Twaddle is a member of the New Zealand Olympic Committee Athletes Commission having held the position since 2009.

He was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2009 New Year honours list.