Luca Ferraro

Nationality

GBR

Height

194cm

School/high school/secondary school

The Latymer School

Club

CUBC

Undergraduate/graduate

Undergraduate

Undergraduate course

Classics

Cambridge college

King’s

Why are you studying your course?

My Latin teacher at school was very cool and engaging, and he really opened the door for me to see the subject as something I could pursue further.

What is the most interesting part of your course?

How all the ancient texts start off looking like something written by a completely alien culture, but when they’re translated it’s clear that people back then in a lot of ways are not actually so different from us now.

Year you first started rowing

2015

First rowing club

Lea Rowing Club

Name of first rowing coach

Mark Cushway

Who is your rowing idol?

Steve Simpole, who stroked the GB lightweight eight to many golds at world championships in the 70s. When I was a junior he would often drive miles and miles from his home to help Mark coach us; the man is a truly gritty athlete from whom I learned a lot about the sport.

Why/how did you get into rowing?

My dad wanted me to try it. He used to row and thought I was the right build. As it became clear a distinct lack of handeye co-ordination ruled out any other sports, I gave it a go.

How do you balance rowing and academic life?

Like a game of Jenga, constantly one move from collapse.

Who would be your dream team eight to row with from everyone in the history of rowing?

Would be cool to get pulled along by the crew of an ancient Athenian trireme. I’m sure they could move an Empacher pretty quickly, but I don’t know how useful it would’ve been against the Spartans.

What is your rowing history, and what has been your biggest achievement so far?

Sculled as a junior, representing GB at the Coupe de la Jeunesse in 2019 and making the Friday of the Fawley for Lea RC the same year. Raced the Prince Albert in 2021 for Cambridge and again reached the Friday, losing out to the eventual winners. Defeating the Isis PA 4+ crew on the Wednesday of Henley 2021.

Have you raced in the Boat Race before? If yes, when?

Raced in the spare pair last year at Ely.

Have you ever been at school/university/on a team with anyone at ‘the other place’?

Raced at Coupe in the same squad as James Forward who lost the race last year. Went to school with Finn Endres who now rows lightweight at Oxford.

Your favourite race so far?

Defeating the Isis PA 4+ crew on the Wednesday of Henley 2021.

What is the best place you have ever rowed?

The Royal Albert Docks, a perpetually flat 2k lake in a stunning location, pretty much completely undisturbed by London City Airport right next door, a beautiful place where I spent many hours rowing as a junior.

Where would be your dream place to row?

Using a small boat to row around Venice would be cool, I think.

Obviously, it is long hours and hard work‚ what inspires you to keep rowing?

The hours are short, and the work is easy when you’re training with the fellas.

What do you feel is your greatest achievement through rowing, be it accolades or something more personal?

Until I came to Cambridge, I thought my biggest goal had been to represent GB. Now I’ve had the honour of beating Oxford while representing CUBC, a fun experience even at Henley, doing that as many times as possible.

What has been your most embarrassing/funny rowing moment?

How bad my Boat Race headshot was last year, so bad that even friends who don’t row found it and made fun of me for it.

What is your favourite sports quote?

GDBO

How would you describe the sport to a non-rower?

Rowing a boat nicely is the closest you can get to the feeling of the sublime.

What is your favourite movie about sports? Why?

Blades of Glory. It’s provocative, it gets the people going.

How does being an athlete make you a better person?

It makes me happier.

Why do you think someone outside of the sport can relate to your career as an athlete?

Covid lockdowns were a real setback last year and I struggled to get through it, much like everyone else in the country, but now out on the other side it feels a lot easier to push on with everything.

What are your strengths, as a person and as an athlete?

I am pretty good at keeping things simple, and rowing always puts me in a good mood -these two things are very useful when we’re training so much all the time.

What do your friends think of your athletic success? How do you handle missing out on activities with friends because of your athletic schedule?

It’s difficult, but I actually think it makes you appreciate time you spend with your other friends more than you would otherwise.

Do you think you can win the Boat Race? Why?

Yes. I trust myself and everyone else in the squad to put everything we’ve got down on the water for each other.

Any hobbies, other interests outside rowing?

I enjoy composing limericks.

Tell us one surprising thing about yourself. 

I hate macaroni cheese.