Back pain
Back pain caused by the shrapnel still lodged close to his spine forced Fazio to undergo a spinal fusion operation in 1967 but within six months he was again rowing at the highest level. He was selected in the New South Wales state eight which won the King's Cup at the Interstate Regatta within the Australian Rowing Championships in 1968 and from there he was selected in six seat of the Australian boat which won the silver medal in the eights event at the 1968 Mexico Olympics. He made another state representative appearance for New South Wales in the King's Cup crew at the 1969 Interstate Championships.