New Jed Jensen Fund to Support Team USA Parafencing Athletes

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — At a competition, there’s always a hum — the zip of warm-up jackets, the buzz of scoring machines, the clash of weapons hitting. But if you made your way to the parafencing pod, chances are you were met with something more: a booming welcome, a wide smile and a story about a young woman named Shelby who was changing the game.

That voice? Jed Jensen.

Jed never met a stranger. A Salt Lake City original, Jed brought the full force of his joy, curiosity and tenacity to the fencing community when his daughter, Shelby, began competing in parafencing in 2016. He became a sideline fixture — not just as a dad, but as a champion for every athlete, referee, coach, medic and family that walked into that space. He didn’t just cheer. He built. And he believed, deeply, that fencing should be for everyone.

That belief became a mission.

Inspired by Shelby’s journey and frustrated by the lack of accessible equipment, Jed partnered with Bill Nikolai of the Utah Fencing Foundation to design and produce what would become known as the “Jed Chairs,” adaptive fencing chairs built to be cost-effective, durable and tournament-ready.

Turning an idea into reality wasn’t easy. Jed cold-called welding shops, haggled for parts and tapped his car community to bring it to life — even convincing his go-to auto upholsterer to craft the cushions. It was classic Jed: full throttle, no excuses.

Over 90 chairs have been produced, with 30 more coming this year. At Nationals in Los Angeles this past spring, several athletes were only able to compete because Jed Chairs were there. That’s the kind of man Jed was. He didn’t just talk about access — he made it happen.

But for Jed, it was more than just the chairs.

It was about the people in them.

He lit up when new athletes tried fencing for the first time, often joking they could hit people with sticks and not get in trouble.

Parafencing in the U.S. is having a moment. The talent is growing. The podiums are stacking up. But elite competition takes more than talent. It takes resources.

The Jed Jensen Fund exists to support our Paralympic athletes with what they need to thrive: specialized gear, travel, coaching, training camps and more. It’s a fund built for champions.

In memory of Jed, the Jensen family set up the fund as a way to keep his work alive and ensure that more athletes, new and seasoned, have the chance to roll onto the strip and fight for their dreams.

Jed Jensen built more than fencing chairs. He built community. He built belonging. He built possibility.

Now it’s our turn to build on his legacy.

Join us in honoring Jed. Let’s keep the Jed Chairs on the strip, the athletes training and the sport growing, just the way Jed would have wanted.

Support the Future of Parafencing in the U.S.