Francia and Lanzone have been named USRowing's 2010 Female and Male Athletes of the Year, respectively, the organization announced on Monday.
Francia, a six-time national team member and 2008 Olympic gold medalist, won a bronze medal in the women's pair at the 2010 World Rowing Championships. The University of Pennsylvania graduate also won gold in the eight and took silver in the pair at the 2010 Rowing World Cup stop in Lucerne, Switzerland, and bronze in the pair at the 2010 Rowing World Cup stop in Bled, Slovenia.
"It's a real honor to be named Athlete of the Year by my peers," said Francia. "I hope I have helped my teammates along the way - if they needed rowing advice, a pick-me-up or just a laugh. It's kind of cool to be in this leadership position. I hope I have been a good role model and pushed my teammates to be better."
A 2005 graduate of the University of Washington, Lanzone sat bow-seat in the men's four that finished fifth at the 2010 World Rowing Championships. This summer, Lanzone raced in the four that won silver at the 2010 Rowing World Cup in Munich, Germany and won the Stewards' Challenge Cup at the 2010 Henley Royal Regatta.
"I wasn't expecting this," said Lanzone. "To be athlete of year, I'm just speechless. I mean, I try to help the team as much as I can, working with everybody to make the team better."
The athletes and coaches of the 2010 World Championships squad selected this year's USRowing Male and Female Athletes of the Year. Francia and Lanzone will be honored on December 3 at the USRowing Annual Awards Reception in Tampa, Fla.
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