one day. “The only reason,” she says, “is that my
mom did it and I want to beat her time.”
>
As for Cafaro, she hopes to one day qualify for an
all around athletic endeavour, such as a triathlon
or the Crossfit Games. Crossfit, a strength and
conditioning programme, is a big part of Cafaro’s
life. “The idea,” she explains, “is to create all around
functional athletes who are capable of excelling
at any sport. Crossfit has begun to incorporate a
lot more erging into their programming because
they have realised that the rowing motion is
one of the most functional, intense, full body
movements one can do.” Cafaro was hired by
Concept2 to travel to different Crossfit locations
around the USA and coach Crossfitters how to
harness their power on the erg. “Exposure to
Crossfit concepts and ideologies has changed
the way I think of health, fitness, and strength,”
says Cafaro.
And what does the future hold for
these two outstanding athletes,
when rowing competition is over?
“Rowing has opened so many
doors for me,” says Cafaro,
who majored in Political Science at the University
of California Berkley, “but right now I’m focusing
on my athletic career and looking forward to
pursing those opportunities once my rowing
career is over.”
Criminology is what Francia majored in at the
University of Pennsylvania. “It was the only
textbook at the university that I would sit down
and just read for fun,” says Francia. “I dreamed of
being a field agent for the FBI and working on
cases. After my rowing career is over, I’d really
like to kick down doors and shoot guns for the
FBI. Hopefully I can pass the physical test (if only
there was an erging section).”
But elite rowing is not over just yet. “I hope to
be a part of the continuing success of the US
Women’s Rowing Team and be up on the medal
stand with my teammates as often as possible,”
says Cafaro. “I want to continue rowing at the
elite level for as long as I enjoy it and as long as
my body holds up,” says Francia.
World Rowing will keep them in the spotlight in
the lead up to London 2012.
■ D.M.-F.
Susan Francia (l) and Erin Cafaro
(r) step out of the boat after
their semifinal race at the
2009 World Rowing
Championships.
