Champion Kiwi rowers Brooke Francis and Lucy Spoors are partnering with Mazda locally in their new roles as company ambassadors.
Both have shared similar life highlights over the past few years.
Spoors achieved silver medal success in 2020 at the Tokyo Olympics as part of the Women’s Eight. Then in 2022 she had a baby son.
Francis was a Women’s Double Scull silver medallist in 2020 before also welcoming a new baby daughter in 2022. Between them, they have achieved four World Championship titles, eight World Cup victories and, most recently, a bronze medal at the World Coastal Championships.
A shared bond of being both new mothers and champion athletes, Francis and Spoors formed a partnership in the Women’s Double Scull. They went on to secure a gold medal in their pinnacle event at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Spoors said “The build up ahead of any international competition is a big undertaking in itself. Doing it as a new mum added a whole new layer of things to consider”.
“Brooke and I could totally share and understand the challenges we were both working through. That understanding made our journey to Paris that much easier.”
Francis and Spoors will be driving Mazda CX-60 plug-in hybrids during their Mazda partnership, a model that will suit their daily lives. Based in Cambridge, the drive to training at Karapiro can be achieved using electric power alone. Longer journeys out of town and to events are supported by the CX-60’s petrol engine.
Already a Mazda owner, Francis was keen to get behind the wheel of the new CX-60.
“We have loved our Mazda and have always been impressed by the way it drives and, even more importantly now with a family, the safety features and practicality. I know Keira will love watching the world out the large sunroof whenever we are in the new car now!”
Mazda New Zealand Managing Director, David Hodge, is delighted to welcome Francis and Spoors on board. “Brooke and Lucy are both incredible people. They are absolutely among the world’s best in their sport. Both have juggled parenthood while remaining at sport’s elite level and have done it all with typical Kiwi humility and attitude. They are remarkable role models to so many of us”.
As part of their role as Mazda ambassadors the duo will begin to collaborate and feature in Mazda New Zealand marketing activity. They will also support the brand within their local community.
