My name is Erin Cafaro and I am a 29-year-old Olympic rower from Northern California. I started rowing at the University of California, Berkeley in 2001. After 3 years of rowing for Cal, I was invited to join the USRowing Women's National Team, and have been a team member for the last 7 years. I am a 2-time NCAA Women's Crew Champion, a 3-time FISA World Rowing Championships Gold Medalist, and an Olympic Gold Medalist in the W8+ at Beijing in 2008.
I am 5'9", 160lbs., something not very typical within the international rowing community. The average women that I train with and compete against stand at least 6'0". To compensate for my size, I have developed a program that ncludes a paleo-style nutrition plan, heavy lifting and lots of interval work. I am constantly seeking new ways to improve my fitness and technique, and have found that the principles of CrossFit have helped me tremendously to develop into the athlete I am today.
I want to share with you the knowledge I have gained while training as an elite athlete at a world championship level. This video is a condensed peek into my last 6 months of preparation for the 2012 London Olympics, highlighting some of the work and fitness routines that I've incorporated into my training. As I row my way to London, I am excited to have this opportunity to blog updates, with videos, so that you can join me on this journey too!