When and where did you begin this sport?

She began fencing when she was a junior high school student.

Why this sport?

She was invited to join a fencing club after a coach watched her do the long jump during a physical education class.

When and where did you begin this sport?

He took up the sport in 1998 in Point-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe.

Why this sport?

He developed an interest in fencing after a demonstration at his school, and was also inspired by Zorro. "I wanted to do karate but there was no competition available so I decided to try fencing. I chose epee because it's more expressive than foil, where the referee is too present."

When and where did you begin this sport?

She began fencing at age six after seeing her father fence at a local competition. "My siblings and I thought the sport was strange and interesting-appearing, so my dad started teaching us the basics in our empty dining room and taking us to a club twice a week that was 1.5 hours away from where we lived."

Why this sport?

She and her brother and sister followed their father, Steve Kiefer, into the sport. "Growing up my dad decided that he wanted to take up fencing again. He hadn't picked up a foil in 10 or 15 years, and me and my siblings watched him compete at a local tournament. Then he asked if we wanted to try it, and we said yes. Twenty years later I'm still doing it."

When and where did you begin this sport?

He took up the sport in 2009 in Ancona, Italy.

Why this sport?

After two years of swimming he wanted to try another sport. He considered taking up tennis before deciding to focus on fencing. "I was hooked from the beginning, and when I began winning some bouts I thought it was the right sport."

When and where did you begin this sport?

She took up the sport at age eight in Togliatti, Russian Federation.

Why this sport?

"My parents brought me for general development. Before that, I did artistic gymnastics."

When and where did you begin this sport?

He began fencing at age 13.

Why this sport?

"This sport is the sport of my family. My father, my brother - they were all engaged in fencing. And I also really wanted to be on a par with them. At first I played football, but once I happened to be at the Georgian fencing championship, and I liked what my brother and father did. It was love at first sight."