Natalie Mastracci, a junior English and textual studies major in Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences, became the first SU student-athlete to win a medal at the 2012 Olympics in London, winning a silver with the Canada women’s eight rowing team.

Mastracci, who lives in Thorold, Ontario, rowed on the SU Women’s team from 2007 to 2010. She put her academic career on hold to train full-time with team Canada.  At SU, she was named to the Big East All-American Team and a CRCA Mid-Atlantic Region Second Team All-American. She led the SU varsity eight to victories against Penn State and Northeastern University at the Orange Cup.  In international competition, Mastracci helped Team Ontario win a gold medal in the women’s eight and a silver medal in the four at the 2009 Canada Games and place fourth at the 2008 U-23 World Championship in Brandenburg, Germany.