LOYOLA Neisser

Personal Information

Family Wife Ksenia, son Teylor [2020]

Residence Éthe, BEL

Occupation Armed Forces Athlete

Languages French, Spanish

License number 28071998009

Club

Upcoming Events

Sport Specific Information

When and where did you begin this sport? He took up the sport at age 11 in Cuba.

Why this sport? Fencing was a popular sport in his family. "However, I started with the violin. My mother had enrolled me in a music school, but I didn't like it. I even cried when I had to go. I already preferred fencing. I took out a TV antenna and used it as a sword."

Club / Team CE Gaumais: Belgium

Name of coach Nelson Loyola Torriente [father], CUB

Training Regime He splits his training between the CE Gaumais club and the Wallonie-Bruxelles Sports Federation in Belgium.

Handedness Right

General Interest

Memorable sporting achievement Qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games. (tvlux.be, 25 Mar 2024)

Most influential person in career His father, and coach Ivan Goitizolo. (Instagram profile, 17 Apr 2024)

Awards and honours He was named 2022 Sportsman of the Year in Arlon, Belgium. (Ville d'Arlon Facebook page, 01 Jun 2023, 07 Mar 2023)

Famous relatives His father Nelson Loyola Torriente represented Cuba in fencing. He was part of the men's epee team that claimed bronze at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. His uncle Wilfredo Loyola was also a fencer and was a member of the Cuban epee team that claimed gold at the 1987 Pan American Games in Indianapolis, IN, United States of America. (SportsDeskOnline, 07 Jul 2022; rtbf.be, 18 Apr 2021; allin1deportes.com, 25 Mar 2024)

Ambitions To win a medal at the Olympic Games. (rtbf.be, 18 Apr 2021)

Other information FROM CUBA TO BELGIUM
Born in Cuba, he and his family relocated to Belgium when he was age 16 after his father took up a coaching role with the Francophone fencing league in Jambes, Belgium. "When I arrived in Belgium, I thought I was going to smash everything, and I took a little slap for that. There was no internet in Cuba, so I didn't know anything about the competitive level here. I joined the Belgian side when my father obtained Belgian nationality. Then I had to wait for two years, and it prevented me from taking part in official competitions." He received Belgian citizenship in 2018. (dhnet.be, 05 Aug 2022, 28 Apr 2021; rtbf.be, 18 Apr 2021; Le Soir, 16 Apr 2024)

ARMED FORCES
In 2019 he joined the Belgian Army after he was offered an elite athlete contract by the Belgian federation. "I am very happy to be part of this elite team. I have the time to train, and the chance to take part in competitions and training camps in order to improve. And when I did my military training, I also enjoyed the military life." (rtbf.be, 18 Apr 2021)

FATHER
His father Nelson Loyola Torriente was an international fencer and has coached Neisser throughout his fencing career. "My father is very emotional and warm-blooded. I know that he wants the best for me but we are both stubborn and at the beginning of our relationship it was not always easy. We were always talking about fencing and it was also difficult for my mother. But it has been better since we set a mental preparation. We learned to divide both roles. Sometimes it is difficult and beneficial at the same time to have your own father by the piste who motivates and advises you. Yes, it has it's own particular challenge but I practise fencing for myself, to become someone in this sport. With this goal it's good to have a relative who can give you big support." (rtbf.be, 23 Jul 2023; Le Soir, 16 Apr 2024)