When and where did you begin this sport?

She began fencing in 2006 in Yantai, People's Republic of China.

Why this sport?

She was encouraged to take up the sport by coach Xu Zhaowei. She also wanted to improve her health.

When and where did you begin this sport?

He took up fencing in grade two of primary school in Toba, Japan.

Why this sport?

He got involved in the sport because it suited his physique.

When and where did you begin this sport?

She began fencing at age eight. She started training seriously at age 10 in Kurchatov, Russian Federation.

Why this sport?

A fencing coach came to her school and recommended that she take up the sport. "I had a choice - to begin either fencing or rhythmic gymnastics. At that time I had no idea of what foil fencing was. I went there for company with a classmate, and thought to myself, 'I'll go to a couple of training sessions out of curiosity, and then I'll switch to gymnastics'. But it happened that I never got to gymnastics again."

When and where did you begin this sport?

He took up the sport at age six at the Circolo Scherma Terni club in Italy.

Why this sport?

He followed his older brother into the sport. "I fell in love with the sport and the people I met - maybe that's why I lost my head in fencing."

When and where did you begin this sport?

She began fencing at age 14 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Why this sport?

She played the piano when she was younger, but she came to dislike it. Her older brother was already involved in fencing and she decided to follow him into the sport. "When I was 14, my older brother Grigoriy encouraged me to do fencing, for which I am very grateful. It was rather late [to start training in] our sport. It took me two years to try and understand."

When and where did you begin this sport?

He took up the sport at age nine at Vasas SC in Budapest, Hungary.

Why this sport?

His mother took him to the Vasas fencing club in Budapest, Hungary.