Allegra Francalacci (ITA)

Rising Star – July 2018

Italian lightweight rower Allegra Francalacci, has Tokyo 2020 in her sights.  Last year the 20-year-old took silver in the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in the lightweight double and made her debut at the World Rowing Championships.  She tells us about what’s next in her rapidly moving career.

I come from Tuscany… a region in the centre of Italy.  I live in Capraia, a little village close to Florence where my rowing club is.

I train in Florence… one of the most famous towns in Italy.  We usually train in the Arno river and in winter, when it’s not possible because of flooding, we row in the Navicelli channel which is in the nearby town of Pisa.

I tried rowing because… after trying many different sports I realised that I needed to work harder physically.  My father, who was a rower, introduced me to the sport.  I keep doing it because I like it and it fulfils me and I’d like to make a future job out of it.

Last year I took part in… both the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Plovdiv and the World Rowing Championships in Sarasota in the same boat class (lightweight double sculls).  I really noticed the difference in the number of people in Sarasota and their level of expertise. It’s more or less like the difference between high school and university!

In the boat I like to be… stroke because I like making decisions.

My greatest challenge… until now has been last year when I earned a seat in the boat against the best Italian athletes.

My best achievement… has been the victory in single scull at last year’s Italian Rowing Championships in Milan.

My favourite non-rowing training is… jogging because it makes me feel free.

This year my goal is to… get back to my best after a long period of recovery after injury.

Long term, I’d like… to be selected for the Italian team for the 2019 World Rowing Championships because they are the qualification event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

To relax…  I listen to music or I write my personal diary.

When I am not rowing…  I like to spend time with family and friends.  When I have free time I like skating and cycling.