Abington Native Wins Gold at Olympics

The United State Women’s 8 rowing team took the gold at the London Olympics, defending its 2008 gold.

According to Penn Athletics, the US team was in the lead for almost the entirety of the 2,000- meter final, and finished nearly a second and a half ahead of the silver medal winners, Canada.

Rowing in the seven seat for the US Women’s Team is Susan Francia, of Abington, who is now a two-time gold medalist, having been on the team in during the Beijing Olympics.

Philly.com reports that as Francia stepped off the dock, she said, “That is an American dynasty, baby. That was a great race. It was a little bit tough conditions, but there was a lot of power in that boat. Just happy to continue the legacy.”

Francia suffered a herniated disk in her back last year and a broken rib in November, according to Philly.com, and unable to row for months, but worked and trained and earned a spot in the Women’s 8.