USA Fencing

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Ready, set, fence! The 2023-24 fencing season is kicking off with a bang (well, technically a clang of steel) as USA Fencing brings the October North American Cup to Orlando. 

From Oct. 26–29, 2023, the Orange County Convention Center will be buzzing with the electrifying sounds of blades meeting blades. And for fencers in Division I, our highest tournament classification, the stakes are even higher: This tournament offers valuable points toward qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games.

"We're thrilled to launch the 2023-2024 season with this event," says Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing. "This event isn't just a showcase of world-class fencing talent; it's an opportunity for families to come together in a city that offers something for everyone."

Jason Siegel, President & CEO of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, is excited to welcome USA Fencing to the city for the first time.

“We are so proud to partner with USA Fencing, in collaboration with the Orange County Convention Center, Visit Orlando, Orange County and our local hotel partners, as we prepare to host the North American Cup,” he says. “This is the first time the sports commission has had the opportunity to work with USA Fencing and we are confident that their elite athletes, coaches, and families will have an incredibly positive experience while they are visiting and competing.”

The tournament will feature competitions in Division I (the highest, most-competitive division), Division II, Cadet (17 and under), and Para (also known as wheelchair fencing). Among the competitors, 16 Olympians and Paralympians are expected to participate:

• Jackie Dubrovich, Olympian

• Ellen Geddes, Paralympian

• Daryl Homer, Olympian

• Kat Holmes, Olympian

• Nick Itkin, Olympian

• Shelby Jensen, Paralympian

• Lee Kiefer, Olympian

• Andrew Mackiewicz, Olympian

• Curtis McDowald, Olympian

• Gerek Meinhardt, Olympian

• Alexander Massialas, Olympian

• Sabrina Massialas, Olympian

• Yeisser Ramirez, Olympian

• Scott Rodgers, Paralympian

• Miles Chamley-Watson, Olympian

• Dagmara Wozniak, Olympian

We’re expecting 2,245 competitors in Orlando — plus thousands more coaches, family members and supporters. The youngest fencer is just 10 years old, while the oldest is still lunging at 76. With participants hailing from 45 different states, this event is a true representation of the sport's growing popularity across the nation.

Admission is free! Whether you're a fencing aficionado or a newcomer eager to learn, spectators are welcome to experience the excitement of world-class fencing up close.

USA Fencing is the national governing body for the Olympic and Paralympic sport of fencing in the United States. Our mission is to grow and promote the sport of fencing in the United States, honor its rich traditions, and achieve sustained competitive international excellence. In USA Fencing, our athletes are strong and competitive both on the fencing strip and in life — a reminder that fencing provides physical and mental benefits that last a lifetime.

The Greater Orlando Sports Commission (GO Sports) is a private, non-profit organization established to attract and manage sports-related events, conferences and activities that drive positive economic development in the City of Orlando, Lake County, Orange County, Osceola County, and Seminole County. Founded in 1992-93, the organization has hosted or co-hosted more than 1,600 events in the Greater Orlando area with a total economic impact exceeding $2.6 billion in spending within the community. For more information, please visit GreaterOrlandoSports.com.