Double Olympic gold medallists and three-time world rowing champions Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell have announced their retirement.
The twins successfully defended their 2004 Athens Olympic title at the Beijing Games in August.
Caroline Evers-Swindell says both she and Georgina felt it was he right time to bow out of rowing and the decision was easy.
She says they have to fulfill sponsors' requirements and then they will look at their future.
However, Evers-Swindell says she will not rule out a return in the future, citing Rob Waddell's successful comeback.
The Hawke's Bay twins were world champions for the first time in Seville in 2002. They won the following year in Milan and again in 2005 in Japan.
The 2006 and 2007 seasons were difficult, but they still won world bronze and silver medals.
