USA Fencing

HOMETOWN:
Bellbrook, Ohio

BIRTH DATE:
July 27, 1984

Events: Foil and Saber
Disability Category: A
Club: Columbus Fencing and Fitness

Wheelchair World Championship Teams: 2023, 2019

Origin Story: "Fenced in high school from 2001 to 2003 and was an able-bodied fencer in USA Fencing from 2007 to 2016."

Why I love fencing: "It's just an intellectually superior sport where strength is irrelevant and thought process is king."

Advice: "Timing always beats speed."

About Byron

A former police officer for the Dayton Police Department, Bellbrook (OH) native and 2024 Paralympics hopeful Byron Branch was responding to a crash on the evening of December 16, 2016 when another driver lost control and hit Branch’s cruiser, which then hit him. Despite having his leg amputated, Branch returned to full-time duty and was named 2018 Officer of the Year for the department. Having taken up fencing in high school, Branch continued training students even after his injury and in 2018, Branch decided to try wheelchair fencing. Shortly thereafter, he won Gold at the 2018 Pan American Games in Saskatoon, Canada. Branch also earned Silver at the 2019 USA Fencing National Championships (Wheelchair Foil) and Bronze at the 2019 January North American Cup (Wheelchair Foil).