Sophie Egnot-Johnson

Sophie Egnot-Johnson has rapidly climbed the ranks of New Zealand rowing, demonstrating remarkable resilience and perseverance. High performance runs in her veins—her mother, Lesley Egnot, won silver in sailing at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, setting a strong sporting legacy.

Sophie’s rowing journey began at Westlake Girls High School, where she quickly established herself as a strong competitor. A standout moment came in 2018 when she secured silver in the U18 Double at the prestigious Maadi Cup regatta. That same year, she earned her first New Zealand team selection, competing in the Women’s Quad at the U19 Rowing World Championships in the Czech Republic, where the crew placed ninth.

Determined to continue her rowing career after school, Sophie joined the Auckland Regional Performance Centre, where she enjoyed a successful first season. At the 2019 NZ Rowing Championships, she claimed three silver medals in sculling events, solidifying her status as a rising talent. Later that year, she was selected for the U21 Trans-Tasman team and continued to excel in Auckland RPC colours. In 2020, she won gold in the U20 Double, bronze in the U22 Single, and silver in the U22 Double at the NZ Rowing Championships. The following year, representing Massey University, she added a bronze medal in the Women’s Single at the NZ University Rowing Championships.

Sophie’s momentum continued in 2022, with standout performances at the NZ Rowing Championships. She won gold in the U22 Single and Premier Double, along with silver in the Premier Single and Eight – earning her first Red Coat, an honour awarded to winners of premier events. Her impressive results caught the attention of selectors, and she successfully earned a place in the U23 New Zealand team. Competing in the U23 Women’s Double with Madeline Parker, she raced at the 2022 U23 World Championships in Italy, finishing 12th overall.

Following her international campaign, Sophie raced for Waikato Rowing Club, training at Lake Karapiro for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. She won gold in the Premier Eight at the 2023 NZ Rowing Championships and elevated her performances the following year, securing three national titles in the Senior Single, Premier Quad, and Senior Quad. The 2024–2025 season was one of her most successful, as she trained under legendary coach Dick Tonks at the Waikato Performance Hub. Her achievements included silver in the Premier Single, bronze in the Premier Double and Quad, and gold in the Women’s Eight at NZ Rowing Championships. Then to top off an impressive year, Sophie finished with a silver medal in the Championship Women’s Single Sculls at the 2024 UTSNZ Tertiary Rowing Championships, after which she was selected to compete for New Zealand at the FISU World University Rowing Championships in the Netherlands, achieving a commendable fourth.

Sophie’s consistent performances throughout the season earned her an invitation to trial for the 2025 Elite World Cup Team. Following an intense and competitive selection process, she was named in one of two New Zealand Women’s Doubles, partnering with Ella Cossill. The duo competed at the 2025 World Cups in Italy and Switzerland, placing 7th and 14th respectively – a strong showing for Sophies debut on the elite international stage.

After returning home, Sophie was unfortunately sidelined from the Elite World Championship trials due to injury. However, her determination, professionalism, and resilience were quickly recognised, and she was reselected into the New Zealand Elite Summer Squad for the 2025–2026 domestic season. Sophie had a successful domestic racing season, highlighted by winning the national title and gold medal in the Women’s Premier Eight at the National Rowing Championships. Following these strong performances, Sophie was invited to trial for the Elite World Cup team, where she was selected in to the Women’s Double. The duo had a very successful World Cup II where they were 5th in the A final. Sophie then travelled back to NZ and trailed in the World Championship Confirmation trial where she was re-selected into the Women’s Double to compete at the 2026 World Championships in Amsterdam. This was Sophie’s first Elite World Championships where she placed 6th in the C Final in the Women’s Double and 1st in the C Final in the Mixed Double. 

Sophie has now been reselected into the Rowing NZ Summer Squad and will train and race at Karapiro for the 2026-2027 summer season.

Beyond rowing, Sophie has showcased her exceptional athletic ability in Ironman competitions, even qualifying for the World Championship Ironman in her age group. Academically, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a minor in Earth Science from Massey University. Known for her kindness and ever-present smile, she is a valued presence within the Rowing New Zealand community.