2026 Junior Olympics, Day 1 Recap: Smart Adjustments and Steady Focus Set the Tone in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Sometimes it’s speed and power that deliver the decisive touch. Sometimes, it’s your brain.

That balance is what makes fencing, often described as physical chess, so endlessly compelling. There are countless ways to reach the podium, and success often hinges on recognizing which strategy fits the moment.

Brynnley McKee (Z1 Fencing Club & Tim Morehouse Fencing Club (Port Chester)) knows that well. Her path to the national championship in Junior Women’s Saber required not just athleticism, but adaptability and patience.

“I think today, it was more intellectual for me,” she says of her winning strategy. “I had to really think about how to control my body. I would say I was proud of how I tried to change the bout intellectually.”

McKee’s gold was one of three national titles awarded Friday, the opening day of the 2026 Junior Olympics in Kansas City. It was a result built on preparation — especially the ability to pivot when a bout doesn’t unfold as planned.

“I would say it's not easy, especially for me,” she says. “What I do to help myself is just say that I've done it before, and at practice all the time. You practice switching, to a different cycle of action. I just remind myself that it's normal for me to do it, and it's nothing out of the ordinary.”

Whether fencing internationally or domestically, McKee says the payoff makes the work worthwhile.

“The feeling of winning? I actually can't fit into words,” she says. “But I have a lot of work to do. I’ll just keep practicing until I can win as much as possible.”

That same steady mindset guided Avni Shiv (Alliance Fencing Academy) to the Cadet Women’s Epee national title. Shiv says her coach’s advice helped keep her grounded throughout the long day.

“I just took it one touch at a time,” she says. “And if I lose a touch, I just ignore it honestly and just focus on the next one.”

With sharp focus and calm decision-making, Shiv joined McKee atop the podium, setting an early tone for a week of high-level competition in Kansas City.