ORLANDO, Fla. – The sport of fencing isn’t exactly an activity that kids pick up everyday.
However, two young athletes in Central Florida love it, and are so good at it, that they’re living their Olympic dreams.
10-year-old Arianna Choi of Orlando just returned from the Junior Olympics in North Carolina where she claimed another gold medal.
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“I think I got 31 gold medals now,” Arianna said.
17-year-old Kruz Schembri of Davenport just returned from the Paris Olympics where he represented the U.S. Virgin Islands for the first time in the Summer Games. He was the USVI’s first Olympian in fencing.
“An amazing feeling. Indescribable, honestly” said Kruz. “I want to thank my coaches, my parents, everyone who helped me get to this point.”
Kruz and Arianna began fencing when they were 8 and 7-years-old, respectively. They both fell in love with it.
They came together recently at Space Coast Olympic Fencing in Rockledge. Kruz made the special trip to help train Arianna and to share advice with other young students.
“Stay motivated to train,” said Kruz. “And if you truly love the sport, it’s going to take you places.”
For Kruz, that could be the 2028 Olympics.
“L.A. 2028 would be a totally different story,” Kru said. “More years of experience and training behind me so I’m just excited.”
Arianna has her own Olympic ultimate goal.
“My dream,” she said, “Is to be the greatest of all-time and win the gold medal at the Olympics.”
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