PRESS RELEASE
DATE: 01/19/2019
Sterling Fencer Michaela Joyce (14) takes Silver at the 2019 USA Fencing Junior Olympics. Held in Denver, Colorado over President’s Day weekend. This is Joyce's first medal at the Junior Olympics, or “JOs,” which is the culminating national fencing event of the season for Cadet (Under 17) and Junior (Under 20) fencers in foil, sabre, and epee. Joyce is a member of Cardinal Fencing Academy in Sterling, VA
Joyce joined more than 2,000 competitors at 2019 Junior Olympic Championships, held at the Denver Convention Center. Athletes from 44 states and the District of Columbia are competing for gold in individual and team junior and cadet events in all three weapons.
Michaela was among dozens a fencers from the DC metro area, home to a growing and thriving fencing community at clubs around the region. During the Gold medal match with Dariya Yefremenko (19, University of Notre Dame) Joyce had to fight through leg cramps and still finished the day with a 12 touch run on the eventual Champion.
This result brought Joyce just short of qualifying for the World Championships held in Tourin, Poland in April. In order to represent the USA at the World Championships, the athletes have to be ranked top four in the country. Joyce finishes the 2018-2019 Season 5th in the 17 and Under Category.
"Ok, we are amazing either way" said Joyce.
ENDS
