When and where did you begin this sport?

She began fencing in 2005 at age 11.

Why this sport?

She tried a number of sports, including dancing and taekwondo, before finding fencing. "I was interested in taekwondo and so I did it all the way until I was age 11 and I got my black belt. But then my mother still wanted me to dance and in between she made me do ice skating. I liked it, but I was not so good at it. And then my father stepped in and said, 'Why don't you try fencing?' Fencing is like the ballet of sports, it is very elegant. I really, really liked fencing so I started it at age 11."

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. "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 in 2000.

Why this sport?

Her father suggested she try the sport.

When and where did you begin this sport?

He began competing in fencing in 2005.

Club / Team

Circolo Scherma Terni [ITA] / CS Aeronautica Militare [ITA]:

When and where did you begin this sport?

She began fencing in 1998 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Why this sport?

Her older brother Grigoriy started fencing and suggested she should try it as well.

When and where did you begin this sport?

He began fencing at Zeta Fencing in Natick, MA, United States of America. The club was a few minutes from his house, and run by national men's sabre coach Zoran Tulum.

Why this sport?

His brother Philip encouraged him to take it up. He also enjoyed the creative aspect of the sport. "I love how, no matter what you do, your opponent can do something and then you do something else to try and win a touch. No two touches are the same."