Frances Houghton

Although already having taken part in three World Junior Championships, Frances Houghton’s senior championship début came at the Sydney Olympics where she competed alongside fellow débutant Sarah Winckless in the double sculls. She bounced around between doubles and eights before being selected for the quadruple sculls for the 2003 season and Houghton has remained an integral part of the quad ever since. An almost permanent fixture in the number three seat, she has won four world titles during this time and a brace of Olympic silvers. She considered retirement after the Beijing Olympic Games but, after taking a year away from the water in 2009, returned to international competition at the start of 2010. During her sabbatical she trained to be a professional chef. Houghton has a degree in Hispanic studies and has worked as a translator.