Susan Francia American rower, Olympic participant 2008 Date of Birth: 08.11.1982 Country: USA

1. Biography of Susan Francia
2. Rowing Success
3. Early Life and Introduction to Rowing
4. International Background and Family
5. Future Plans

Biography of Susan Francia

Susan Francia is an American rower who is part of the United States national rowing team. She was born on November 8, 1982, in Szeged, Hungary and currently resides in Princeton. Francia made her Olympic debut in Beijing, where she competed in the women's eight event.

Rowing Success

Francia achieved consecutive world titles in 2006 and 2007 when she competed in the women's eight event. In 2007, she also won the World Cup and a bronze medal in Linz. Additionally, Francia can count her victory in the Boston regatta as another accomplishment, which she achieved three times as part of the women's eight team.

Early Life and Introduction to Rowing

Francia became serious about rowing during her second year at the University of Pennsylvania. While she played basketball and ran cross country in high school, she wanted to focus on her academic achievements to get into the Wharton School of Business. After a semester without sports, Francia realized that being part of a team could contribute to her academic goals. Therefore, during her second year of university, she decided to take up rowing. She quickly fell in love with the sport and continued her training.

International Background and Family

Born in Hungary, Francia moved to the United States at the age of two. She typically spends her summer vacations in Budapest with her parents, where her aunt and grandmother live. Due to her international background, Francia considers herself more open to other cultures. When her relatives found out about her rowing pursuits, they gave her a shirt with the autographs of two famous Hungarian rowers, Akos Haller and Peto Tibor. When Francia saw them for the first time at the World Cup, she mustered the courage to greet them.

Future Plans

After the Olympic Games, Francia plans to move to San Diego, where she hopes to pursue her dream of becoming a fitness model. Thanks to rowing, Francia has appeared on the covers of various magazines, which she mentions on her personal website. Among the photographs are shots from a Hungarian fashion magazine.