2026 Junior & Cadet Worlds, Day 4: Jaelyn Liu Wins Back-to-Back Junior Women's Foil World Titles

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Jaelyn Liu already knew what it felt like to be a Junior Women's Foil world champion. On Day 4 of the 2026 Junior & Cadet Fencing World Championships, she made sure she'd know that feeling again.

Liu (Star Fencing Academy, Fencing Institute of Texas) defeated Linlin Zhu of China 15-4 in the gold medal bout to claim back-to-back Junior Women's Foil world titles — and she did it the hard way.

In the semifinal against Minchae Shin of Korea, Liu found herself down 10-8, battling not just her opponent but her own body.

"My hand was almost cramping — it was feeling really weak, and she was very powerful," Liu said. "Every time I'd attack, I'd miss her shoulder, and I was getting pretty frustrated. But I was able to calm myself down."

She rallied to win 15-14, the closest bout of a day that otherwise saw her win 15-5, 15-10, 13-10, 15-7 and 15-8. From there, it was all business in the final.

When the bout ended, Liu said the first people who came to mind were her parents.

"I had a bet going on with them previously," she said. "They really wanted me to do well because I haven't had a good season — and being able to do well in this competition, I just felt so relieved and so happy."

Liu has been one of the most decorated fencers at this tournament in recent memory. She won Cadet Women's Foil gold in both 2024 and 2025, then claimed Junior Women's Foil gold in 2025. Today's victory gives her four world titles — all before aging out of the Junior ranks.

"This will be the last year where I have to fence all three days," she said — a reference to her final season of eligibility as a Cadet, which requires her to compete in the Junior individual, Cadet individual and Junior team events. "I hope to put it off with a bang."

Asked whether the achievement felt like a dream, Liu was characteristically grounded.

"I wouldn't say a dream. It feels very realistic, because I'm the one putting in all the hard work and all the effort, and my efforts have paid off."

Liu's gold extends one of the most dominant stretches any nation has produced in a single event at this level. American fencers have now won nine of the last 12 Junior Women's Foil world titles — including six of the last seven, with Canada's Jessica Guo the lone exception in 2024.

The depth of Team USA's performance in the event made the day even more remarkable. Ella Calise (Tim Morehouse Fencing Club) finished 5th in a field of 159, and Caterina Fedeli (Epic Fencing Club) was right behind her in 6th — three Americans in the top six of one of the world's most competitive Junior events. Katerina Lung (Moe Fencing Club, Columbia University) rounded out the squad in 24th.

In Junior Men's Foil, Roy Graham (Jovanovic Fencing, Harvard University) led the U.S. contingent with a 12th-place finish in a field of 177. Peter Bruk (Gutkovskiy Fencing Academy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) finished 15th, Castor Kao (Star Fencing Academy, Yale University) 18th, and Luao Yang (Renaissance Fencing Club) 33rd.

Junior Women's Foil

Gold: Jaelyn Liu (Star Fencing Academy, Fencing Institute of Texas) 5th place: Ella Calise (Tim Morehouse Fencing Club) 6th place: Caterina Fedeli (Epic Fencing Club) 24th place: Katerina Lung (Moe Fencing Club, Columbia University)

Junior Men's Foil

12th place: Roy Graham (Jovanovic Fencing, Harvard University) 15th place: Peter Bruk (Gutkovskiy Fencing Academy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) 18th place: Castor Kao (Star Fencing Academy, Yale University) 33rd place: Luao Yang (Renaissance Fencing Club)