2026 Junior Olympics, Day 4 Recap: New Targets, Calm Finishes and Final-Day Gold in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One way to view a national championship is as validation — proof that the long hours of training paid off.

Another way is as a warning label.

Because once you win at this level, every future opponent knows exactly who they’re chasing.

Howard Li (Eagle Blade Fencers Club) understands that reality well. On Monday, the final day of the 2026 Junior Olympics in Kansas City, Li captured the Junior Men’s Saber national championship — one of four titles awarded — and immediately began thinking about what comes next.

“I’m most proud of how I came here today and worked hard,” he says. “I kind of felt off in the beginning, but I pushed my way through it. That's what I'm most proud of.”

Li leaned on steady support throughout the day, including from his father, whose words helped him navigate tough moments. Looking ahead, Li hopes to qualify for international competitions and continue building results domestically — while knowing this win puts a bigger spotlight on his back.

“My goal is to be more humble and train harder,” he says. “Everybody’s getting better.”

That steady, forward-looking mindset was also on display in Cadet Women’s Foil, where Iris Yang (Tim Morehouse Fencing Club (Port Chester)) found success in multiple ways on her path to a national title.

Yang showed she could dominate when the opportunity arose — winning bouts 15–6 and 15–4 — and grind through tighter, tactical matches as well, including 10–3 and 12–5 victories. She capped the day with a composed 10–5 win in the final.

No matter the scoreline, Yang says her approach stayed the same.

“I’m most proud of how I stayed calm through all the bouts,” she says. “I didn't panic if I was losing or anything.”

That composure was reinforced by consistent messaging from her coaches, who helped her trust herself when the pressure mounted.

“Mostly they were telling me just to be myself and be confident,” she says. “They were like, I know you can do it — so that really helped.”