From Womb-Mates to Teammates, Twinning is Winning

Courtesy: Elizabeth Spencer Rosenthal

First, they were womb-mates, then they were roommates, now they are teammates. And last Saturday, it was nothing short of TWIN-credible when 17-year-old sisters Parker and Emory Jacobsen-Bertanzetti took their marks to settle the score with a sensational swim off in the 50-meter freestyle!

In the preliminary session, from different lanes in different heats, the twins touched the wall in identical times, setting the stage for the spirited sister showdown.

• See the swim-off results here.

“When I first found out that I had to swim off against my twin, I was very anxious,” Parker explained. The thought of losing was scary because I didn’t want to disappoint myself or my coaches. After further reflection, I realized that this situation was the best-case scenario. I knew I was swimming against my best friend, and we always support each other, no matter what happens. We’ve actually had a lot of practice racing each other because we swim side-by-side at training every day.”

According to Emory, “At first I felt disbelief with how ironic it sounded, but my coaches were really excited and my sister and I wanted to give everyone a good race!”

And they did not disappoint. In the swim off, the girls brought out the best in each other, dueling stroke for stroke, with Parker ultimately out-touching Emory by a mere 0.03 seconds, and both posting lifetime bests.

Like a tie-breaker in any sport, a swim-off brings extra intensity, offering competitors one more chance to advance. This can be incredibly dramatic for the athletes and fans alike, regardless of whether or not they are related.

Notably, in the semifinals of the 50-meter freestyle at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, Adam Chaney and Jonny Kulow tied for the eighth and last spot in the final. Incredibly, the swimmers tied again in the swim-off, resulting in a second high-stakes showdown, where Chaney eventually prevailed by 0.18 seconds.

In a story about twins, it seems only right to mention the sport’s most widely known duo, Alex and Andrew Shackell. Although ironically, it is their older brother, Aaron, who found himself in a swim-off for finals in the 200-meter freestyle at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, where he out-touched Daniel Diehl by 0.21 seconds.

Whether it’s by nature or nurture, or a combination of the two, multiple sets of multiples can be seen enjoying the sport of swimming together. While you may think you are seeing double, swimming with a twin can be twice as nice, but with unique challenges as well, as they strive to maintain their own identities.

Emory and Parker, age 17

Alike: Both love baking, shopping, skateboarding, surfing and making people laugh. They share a strong work ethic and determination. They hold each other accountable and push each other to get better.

Different: Parker likes backstroke and breaststroke, while Emory favors freestyle and IM. Parker likes environmental science. Emory prefers social science. Parker is a planner, while Emory tends to “go with the flow.”

Emory: “The best part about swimming with your twin is that you always have someone to motivate you and hold you accountable. The hardest part is how competitive it gets. We have found ourselves choosing different events so we don’t have to compete as often.”

Parker: “We motivate each other every day and we face our challenges within the sport together, so we never go through difficult times alone. The hardest part of swimming with a twin is the comparison. Just because we look the same doesn’t mean we swim the same — Except for that once!”

Addison and Anthony, age 16

Alike: Both are outgoing, social and enjoy tackling new things together. They share an enthusiasm for school and learning, and both are officers in student government.

Different: Anthony likes 100 and 200 backstroke, enjoys being indoors, and wants to stay in-state for college. Addison favors 100 breast and 400 free, prefers outdoor hobbies, such as the beach and paddle boarding, and wants to go away for college.

Addison: “The best part of swimming with Anthony is always having someone to support and motivate me. Swimming with your sibling can also have its challenges, but the memories and experiences you share are very rewarding in the end.”

Anthony: “Getting to train with each other is great motivation to improve every day. His best advice: “Make the most of the shared experience, as you will never get back the time spent with your sibling, doing the sport you love.”

Danil and Nikita, age 17

Alike: Both like to relax after practice and eat a lot. They share a sense of humor, and like similar shows and movies.

Different: Danil likes to swim 50 free and 200 IM. His interests are more active and include driving boats, flying drones, taking photos and cooking. Nikita prefers distance events, such as the 500 free and the mile. He tends to be more reserved and enjoys quieter hobbies, such as watching videos, playing games, writing and building.

Danil: “Whenever we are in the same lane or swimming side by side, there tends to be a competition of whoever can get to the wall first or who can be faster. Rarely, there can be arguments and it leads to a bad practice.”

Nikita: “My brother is more competitive and serious about the sport, so he may set a more rigid schedule for himself that I am forced to follow. But I find ways to stay happy.” His best advice: “Try not to get into too many fights and bear with one another.”

Shiloh and Shilah, age 12

Alike: Both love to swim. They have an older brother, Eonn, 14, who swims on the same team.

Different: Shiloh loves racing the 50 freestyle, and is fun and easy-going. Shilah favors 100 breast, and is more serious and straightforward.

Shiloh: “I love how much my twin sister supports me in every single race in the pool and outside of the pool as well.”

Shilah: “Whenever I don’t do well in a race, my brother helps make things more positive.”

Some final “twin-spiration” from two lifelong swim sisters who prefer to keep the kids in the spotlight:

Sister 1: There is an added benefit for twins and siblings when they are in the same sport. There is unconditional support, and we know each other better than anyone else. If I’m going to lose, I’d rather lose to my twin sister, because the win stays in the family. And that is something to be happy about.

Sister 2: We competed together from the time we were 8, and as college teammates. Years later, we are still together, supporting the next generation of swimmers and helping others’ dreams come true. You see, swimming is a lifelong sport, for all seasons and generations.

And that’s full circle twinning for the win.

ABOUT ELIZABETH SPENCER ROSENTHAL

Elizabeth Spencer Rosenthal is a wife and mother of 3 from Miami. She is a passionate swim mom, volunteer and meet official, with a professional background in marketing and public relations. She holds a degree in Public Communication from American University, and loves finding a story to tell.