Meet Sevilla: Fencing Her Way to Success

Sevilla X., a sixth grader at Shanghai American School, has been fencing for five years and recently won a U.S. National Championship in her age group. What started as inspiration from older SAS students has grown into a true passion, one she continues to nurture with the support of her teachers, classmates, and family.  

What’s the biggest change you’ve noticed in yourself since you’ve started fencing?

When I first started, I always wanted to win. But fencing has taught me that losing does happen. There’s always a chance of losing, and now I see that as part of life.

How do you balance fencing training and schoolwork?

It’s really hard, but I balance depending on what’s coming up. If there’s a big test, I study more. If there’s a big competition, I fence more. On the way to practice, I even study in the car with my mom asking me questions.

What was your experience like at Summer Nationals?

Summer Nationals is a huge competition with some Olympic fencers, like Lee Kiefer. She’s my idol. I even took pictures with her. I won in the foil event age group for 9–11-year-olds. Winning felt great because all the hard work paid off.

What would you say to encourage kids your age to try fencing?

Definitely try fencing! It’s good for your body and mental health. Calm people can use calm tactics, fast people can use fast tactics. You can also learn to use every tactic. Fencing is for everyone.

Congratulations, Sevilla! From learning resilience through wins and losses to leading her teammates with spirit, she is proving that passion and perseverance make a powerful combination.