When and where did you begin this sport?

She took up the sport in 1996 in Bucharest, Romania.

Why this sport?

Her parents wanted her to take up a sport. She initially played tennis before her elder brother Marius, who was a member of CSA Steaua Bucuresti's youth football team, took her to his club's fencing hall. After six months of training, she became national champion in her age group.

When and where did you begin this sport?

He began fencing at age 13 in Moscow, Russian Federation.

Why this sport?

He previously played water polo but was forced to give up the sport due to sinusitis. His mother then encouraged him to start fencing.

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 10 in Mykolayiv, Ukraine.

Why this sport?

She was doing dancing but it was rather expensive for her parents. Her godfather, a fencing coach, then encouraged her to switch sports.

When and where did you begin this sport?

He first tried fencing while he was in primary school. He took up the sport competitively in 2009 at Maebong Middle School in Daejeon, Republic of Korea.

Why this sport?

He was influenced by his older brother. His parents initially did not want him to get involved in the sport but they were persuaded to let him pursue it after coach Park Jong-Han identified his talent.