In many competitive sports, it can happen that an athlete is forced to give up his career, be it for health reasons or because he has passed the so-called “maximum age”. But fencing is a sport where age knows no bounds.
Last week, the USA Fencing Summer Nationals were held at the Phoenix Convention Center.
About 5,000 participants punched and stabbed their opponents, their faces obscured by net masks and their bodies protected by padded white armour.
A Virginia family had a 10-year-old daughter competing and a 7-year-old son ready for next season. Both started fencing last year after switching from football.
Jill Ryan/KJZZ
The Olele family (from left), Ifechi Olele, 10, Chibuiken Olele, 7, Dr. Chi Chi Olele and Dr. Ifeanyi Olele, at the Phoenix Convention Center for the USA Fencing Summer Nationals in July 2023.
your parents, dr. Chi-Chi Olele and her husband, Dr. Ifeanyi Olele, run a psychiatric clinic. Her patients include athletes of all ages.
Chi-Chi says that adapting can be difficult for athletes who are forced to retire.
“You’ve been doing something since you were six years old and now you’re wondering what else are you supposed to do with your time since this is something that has taken up almost 100% of your life,” Chi-Chi said .
That’s why Chi-Chi is a fan of how age-appropriate fencing is.
“It’s a sport that never expires, no matter how old you are. “There are fencing veterans here, and they’re about 70 or 80 years old,” Chi-Chi said.
The oldest fencer at this year’s Summer Nationals was 85 years old.
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