Editorial
The Women's Freedom Network Newsletter
September/October, 2002; Volume 9, No. 5

Young Woman Masters the Sport of Kings

by Rita J. Simon

Carolyn Wright, a 16-year old, third year student at H.B. Woodlawn High School in Viriginia, is currently ranked in the top ten of women saber fencers by the United States Fencing Association. With this national ranking, Carolyn qualifies to compete in Senior and Junior World Cup events on the intemational. circuit. In the Cadet category (under 17) she currently ranks third in the country. As of October, she is ranked number 64 among women saber fencers in the world.

In a recent interview, Carolyn talked about her fencing life. She started fencing three years ago when she was in 8th grade. She practices about eight hours each week and does endurance training in addition. She plans to continue fencing when she is a student at a university. But after that, she is not sure that she will continue to compete.

During this' past year, her fencing took her to Senior World Cup events in Massachusetts and Cuba. In October, she represented the United States at the Pan American Junior (under 20) and Cadet (under 17) Championships in Santiago, Chile and won the gold and silver medals in those events. She will continue fencing on the international circuit with competitions in Italy, Hungary and Spain this year. National competition in the United States have taken her to California, Ohio, Indiana, Texas, Utah, South Carolina, and Florida. Her parents accompany her to all of her competitions, and her coach is at most of them. She has had a private coach, a Fencing Master from Russia, for the past two and a half years. Carolyn's ambition is to compete in the 2008 Olympics.

When asked about the differences between men and women fencers, Carolyn explained that men fence a lot faster and women are more cautious and move less. She likes to practice with men because it helps build up her speed and movement.

How did she choose fencing over all the other sports, i.e., soccer, basketball, and cross-country track? She chose fencing mostly because of the legends surrounding fencing. Kings, noblemen, heroes fenced out of a code of loyalty and honor. Carolyn identifies with that tradition.

Her interests other than fencing are music (she plays the trumpet), reading and cooking.

Dr. Rita J. Simon is President and Co-Founder of the Women's Freedom Network. She has been University Professor in the School of Public Affairs and the Washington College of Law at American University, Washington, D.C. since 1988.