Residing in Mark Cross, near Crowborough, Emily and Imogen's journey to gold has been one of determination and resilience. Their near-miss at the Tokyo Olympics three years prior, where they finished just 0.01 seconds off the podium and 0.5 seconds from gold, only fuelled their ambition. Imogen kept a picture of the photo finish on her living room wall as a constant reminder of their goal.
Their perseverance paid off. The dynamic duo remained unbeaten throughout this Olympiad and lived up to their status as pre-race favourites. They won by a clear 1.72 seconds, leaving the Romanian pair Gianina van Groningen and Ionela Cozmiuc in their wake.
The victory was particularly poignant for Emily, who was in tears after the race. The title they had fought so hard for was now theirs forever, marking the end of this event in the Olympic Games.
Despite a slightly slow start, the British pair took the lead after 400 metres. By the midpoint of the race, they had opened up a one-second lead, finding clear water and creating a cushion that helped them hold off the late Romanian sprint.
Both the Cambridge University Boat Club and University of London Boat Club celebrated the Olympic champions' win. The former praised their "dominant display of lightweight rowing," while the latter took to Instagram, exclaiming, "They've only gone and done it".
Matthew Griffiths, Imogen's fiance and one of her first novice rowing coaches at the University of Cambridge, has been a witness to her journey from novice to Olympian. He said, "It’s also been an immense privilege to be able to see what that journey looks like."
Emily Craig's victory is a testament to her relentless pursuit of excellence, proving that with determination and hard work, dreams can come true. As Sussex celebrates its local hero, Emily's story will undoubtedly inspire many more to chase their Olympic dreams.
