Aquablack #239, Emma Robinson from Capital Swim Club has announced her retirement from competitive swimming to focus on other endeavours.
“I have been lucky enough to be a competitive swimmer since the age of 12. Over that time swimming has given me so much, it has taught me dedication, hard work, trusting the process, leadership, discipline and how to deal with failure just to name a few.
I have also been lucky enough to meet the most amazing people along the way from coaches, teammates, competitors, officials, team managers, Physio’s, sport sciences and SNZ staff. These people have all helped shape who I am and the achievements I’ve have been lucky enough to achieve, and I’d like to thank them all for it.
Moving forward I’m planning on finishing my sports management degree and then move into that field of work. I’m also planning on picking up some running and might even attempt a marathon. I’ve also been lucky enough to be selected as a team manager for the State Teams happening at the end of the month
I’d also like to say while you won’t see me in the water anytime soon, I hope I can still give back to a sport that has given me so much. To all the friends I have met along the journey thank you for the support and encouragement and don’t be a stranger.” - Emma Robinson, September 2019.
Emma first represented New Zealand at junior level in 2011 at the Junior Commonwealth Games in the Isle of Man and again the following year at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Hawaii.
Emma’s first AquaBlacks team saw her compete at the Open water World Championships in Spain, 2013 in the Women’s 10km event.
Back in the pool for 2014, Emma qualified for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games where she competed in the 4x 200m Freestyle Relay and the 200m and 800m Freestyle Individual events.
In the 800m Freestyle event, Emma finished 10th equal with Scottish swimmer Aisha Thornton and in a rare occurrence, the pair had a swim-off for second reserve. Emma won the swim off in a time of 8:41.94 seconds.
At the 16th FINA World Championships in 2015, Emma competed in the 400m and 800m Freestyle events.
At the 2016 New Zealand Open Championships, Emma qualified for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. At the Games, she competed in the Women's 800m Freestyle finishing 16th overall in 8:33.73 seconds.
In 2017, Emma qualified for the 17th FINA World Championships in the 800m and 1500m Freestyle at the 2017 New Zealand Open Championships. She was the 2017 National Champion in the 400m, 800m and 1500m Freestyle.
Emma, who swims out of TSS Aquatics on the Gold Coast - qualified for the 2018 Pan Pacific Championships after dominating the 800m Freestyle at the NZ Open Championships. Unfortunately, due to health reasons, Emma was forced to withdraw from the competition.
Swimming New Zealand would like to thank Emma for her service to the sport and wish her all the best for her future endeavours. We look forward to having her on board as State Teams Team Manager, she will be an asset to the team.
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