COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — They’ve trained relentlessly, crisscrossed the globe and taken on some of the country’s — and the planet’s — top fencers. When the dust settled and the points were counted, these select few found themselves on top.

We now know five of the six squads (all but Women’s Foil) who will represent Team USA at a pair of important international competitions later this year: the Pan-American Senior Championships and the FIE Fencing World Championships. 

These athletes will face the best from around the world as they seek to bring home medals and cement their places in the fencing world.

The Women's Foil team selection process is still underway, with two FIE tournaments remaining before the final roster is set. The Plovdiv World Cup in Bulgaria (May 5–7) and the Shanghai Grand Prix in China (May 19–21) will determine the four members of Team USA's Women's Foil squad.

As for the 20 athletes being named today, they’ve shown determination, skill and sportsmanship throughout the qualification period. And their passion for the sport and drive to succeed have been inspiring to watch. 

Our Senior World Team athletes will represent Team USA at the:

• 2023 Pan-American Senior Championships (Zonals): June 14–21 in Lima, Peru

• 2023 FIE Fencing World Championships: July 22–30 in Milan, Italy 

At these tournaments — and other FIE competitions both before and after throughout the qualification cycle — these fencers will fight for spots on the 2024 Paris Olympic team. The experience and results gained at the Pan-American Senior Championships and the FIE Fencing World Championships will be crucial for these athletes as they aim for Olympic glory.

Here’s the team and how they qualified.

All season long, Team USA athletes have traveled the country and the globe to face off against the best athletes in the nation and the world. 

These domestic and international tournaments present an opportunity for fencers to earn qualification points. The higher a fencer places in a tournament, the more points they earn. This process is made more interesting by something called the “strength factor” multiplier. Tournaments with a tougher field of competitors are worth more points. 

For fans, following along is easy. At USA Fencing, we “show our work” when calculating these points, so fans always know where fencers rank.

You can start by consulting the point charts in the Athlete Handbook to know the value of each finishing position. You can also check the Selection Criteria page for even more information. Then visit USA Fencing’s Current Point Standings page. Here, you get a complete look at each fencer’s point totals, updated the Monday after a weekend tournament. For the Senior World Team discussed in this post, find the weapon you want and look for the PDF that includes the words “Sr Team.”

Let’s look at the qualifying path of women’s saber fencer Elizabeth Tartakovsky as an example. Tartakovsky earned a total of 6,857 points — enough to finish ranked first in her weapon. She earned those points as follows:

• Group I: 737 points

  • Sum of the two highest points earned at Division I NAC events, the 2023 Division I National Championship and competitions in Group II not included in the Group II sum.

    • 368.5 points: 20th place, October 2022 NAC

    • 368.5 points: 20th place, January 2023 NAC

• Group II: 6,120 points

  • Sum of the four highest points earned at designated Senior World Cup and Grand Prix competitions and the 2022 Senior World Championships

    • 2,040 points: Bronze medal, Tashkent World Cup

    • 1,656 points: 7th place, Sint-Niklaas World Cup

    • 1,224 points: 14th place, Tunis Grand Prix

    • 1,200 points: 16th place, Orleans Grand Prix

• Sum of Group I and II: 6,857 points

The athletes below are listed in order of their final ranking in the point standings.

Senior Women’s Epee

Kat Holmes OLY

Clubs: New York Athletic Club, DC Fencers Club

Current FIE ranking: 27

Birthdate: July 15, 1993

World Championship results:

• 2009 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Cadet Women's Epee Individual Silver

• 2010 I. Summer Youth Olympic Games - Cadet Six Weapon Team Bronze

• 2010 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Epee Team Silver

• 2012 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Epee Team Bronze

• 2018 Senior World Championships - Women's Epee Team Gold

Instagram: @katholmes46

Isis Washington

Clubs: Peter Westbrook Foundation, Top Fencing Club

Current FIE ranking: 72

Birthdate: Sept. 25, 1993

Instagram: @iwashingtonusa 

Kasia Nixon

Clubs: Peter Westbrook Foundation, Fencers Club Inc.

Current FIE ranking: 80

Birthdate: Dec. 15, 1997

World Championship results:

• 2014 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Cadet Women's Epee Individual Bronze

• 2016 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Epee Team Bronze

• 2017 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Epee Individual Silver

• 2017 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Epee Team Bronze

Instagram: @kasianixon.la

Anne Cebula

Clubs: New York Athletic Club, New York Fencing Academy

Current FIE ranking: 56

Birthdate: July 3, 1998

Instagram: @anne.cebula

 

Senior Men’s Epee

Dylan Nollner

Club: New York Athletic Club

Current FIE ranking: 79

Birthdate: May 13, 1992

Stephen Ewart Jr.

Clubs: Swords Fencing Studio, University of Notre Dame

Current FIE ranking: 64

Birthdate: Aug. 23, 1999

World Championship results:

• 2019 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Epee Team Silver

Instagram: @stephen.ewart

Tristan Szapary

Clubs: Fencers Club Inc., Princeton University

Current FIE ranking: 111

Birthdate: Oct. 18, 2001

World Championship results:

• 2021 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Epee Team Silver

Instagram: @t_szap

Curtis McDowald OLY

Clubs: Peter Westbrook Foundation, Fencers Club Inc.

Current FIE ranking: 57

Birthdate: Jan. 23, 1996

Instagram: @curtismcdowald

 

Senior Women’s Foil

Lee Kiefer OLY

Club: Bluegrass Fencers' Club

Current FIE ranking: 1

Birthdate: June 15, 1994

World Championship and Olympic results:

• 2008 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Cadet Women's Foil Individual Bronze
• 2009 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Cadet Women's Foil Individual Silver
• 2009 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Team Gold
• 2010 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Cadet Women's Foil Individual Gold
• 2011 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Cadet Women's Foil Individual Silver
• 2011 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Individual Silver
• 2011 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Team Silver
• 2011 Senior World Championships - Women's Foil Individual Bronze
• 2012 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Individual Bronze
• 2012 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Team Silver
• 2013 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Individual Bronze
• 2013 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Team Silver
• 2014 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Individual Gold
• 2014 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Team Gold
• 2017 Senior World Championships - Women's Foil Team Silver
• 2018 Senior World Championships - Women's Foil Team Gold
• 2019 Senior World Championships - Women's Foil Team Bronze
• 2020 XXXII. Summer Olympic Games - Women's Foil Individual Gold
• 2022 Senior World Championships - Women's Foil Individual Bronze
• 2022 Senior World Championships - Women's Foil Team Silver

Instagram: @leetothekiefer

Jackie Dubrovich OLY

Club: New Jersey Fencing Alliance

Current FIE ranking: 17

Birthdate: July 18, 1994

World Championship and Olympic results:

• 2011 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Team Silver
• 2012 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Team Silver
• 2013 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Team Silver
• 2014 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Team Gold
• 2019 Senior World Championships - Women's Foil Team Bronze
• 2022 Senior World Championships - Women's Foil Team Silver

Instagram: @jackiedubrovich

Lauren Scruggs

Club: Peter Westbrook Foundation, Harvard University

Current FIE ranking: 37

Birthdate: Jan. 27, 2003

World Championship results:

• 2018 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Individual Bronze
• 2018 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Team Gold
• 2019 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Cadet Women's Foil Individual Gold
• 2019 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Individual Gold
• 2021 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Team Silver
• 2022 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Individual Gold
• 2022 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Team Gold
• 2023 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Individual Bronze
• 2023 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Team Gold

Instagram: @saucyscruggs

Maia Weintraub

Club: Fencers Club, Princeton University

Current FIE ranking: 27

Birthdate: Oct. 24, 2002

World Championship results:

• 2021 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Team Silver
• 2022 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Foil Team Gold
• 2022 Senior World Championships - Women's Foil Team Silver

Instagram: @maia.weintraub

Senior Men’s Foil

Alexander Massialas OLY

Club: Massialas Foundation (M Team)

Current FIE ranking: 1

Birthdate: April 20, 1994

World Championship and Olympic results:

• 2009 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Cadet Men's Foil Individual Bronze

• 2009 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Team Silver

• 2010 I. Summer Youth Olympic Games - Cadet Men's Foil Individual Silver

• 2010 I. Summer Youth Olympic Games - Cadet Six Weapon Team Bronze

• 2010 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Cadet Men's Foil Individual Gold

• 2010 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Team Gold

• 2011 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Cadet Men's Foil Individual Gold

• 2011 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Individual Silver

• 2011 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Team Gold

• 2012 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Individual Bronze

• 2012 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Team Gold

• 2013 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Individual Gold

• 2013 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Team Silver

• 2013 Senior World Championships - Men's Foil Team Silver

• 2014 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Individual Bronze

• 2014 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Team Silver

• 2015 Senior World Championships - Men's Foil Individual Silver

• 2016 XXXI. Summer Olympic Games - Men's Foil Individual Silver

• 2016 XXXI. Summer Olympic Games - Men's Foil Team Bronze

• 2017 Senior World Championships - Men's Foil Team Silver

• 2018 Senior World Championships - Men's Foil Team Silver

• 2019 Senior World Championships - Men's Foil Team Gold

• 2020 XXXII. Summer Olympic Games - Men's Foil Team Bronze

• 2022 Senior World Championships - Men's Foil Team Silver

Instagram: @amassialas

Gerek Meinhardt OLY

Clubs: Massialas Foundation (M Team), Bluegrass Fencers’ Club

Current FIE ranking: 6

Birthdate: July 27, 1990

World Championship and Olympic results:

• 2008 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Team Gold

• 2009 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Individual Bronze

• 2009 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Team Silver

• 2010 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Individual Silver

• 2010 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Team Gold

• 2010 Senior World Championships - Men's Foil Individual Bronze

• 2015 Senior World Championships - Men's Foil Individual Bronze

• 2016 XXXI. Summer Olympic Games - Men's Foil Team Bronze

• 2017 Senior World Championships - Men's Foil Team Silver

• 2018 Senior World Championships - Men's Foil Team Silver

• 2019 Senior World Championships - Men's Foil Team Gold

• 2020 XXXII. Summer Olympic Games - Men's Foil Team Bronze

• 2022 Senior World Championships - Men's Foil Team Silver

Instagram: @gerekmeinhardt

Nick Itkin OLY

Clubs: LA International Fencing Center, University of Notre Dame

Current FIE ranking: 11

Birthdate: Oct. 9, 1999

World Championship and Olympic results:

• 2017 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Team Gold

• 2018 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Individual Gold

• 2018 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Team Bronze

• 2020 XXXII. Summer Olympic Games - Men's Foil Team Bronze

• 2022 Senior World Championships - Men's Foil Individual Bronze

• 2022 Senior World Championships - Men's Foil Team Silver

Instagram: @nick_itkin

Miles Chamley-Watson OLY

Clubs: LA International Fencing Center, Fencers Club Inc.

Current FIE ranking: 20

Birthdate: Dec. 3, 1989

World Championship and Olympic results:

• 2008 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Team Gold

• 2009 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Foil Team Silver

• 2013 Senior World Championships - Men's Foil Individual Gold

• 2013 Senior World Championships - Men's Foil Team Silver

• 2016 XXXI. Summer Olympic Games - Men's Foil Team Bronze

• 2017 Senior World Championships - Men's Foil Team Silver

• 2018 Senior World Championships - Men's Foil Team Silver

• 2019 Senior World Championships - Men's Foil Team Gold

Instagram: @fencer

 

Senior Women’s Saber

Elizabeth Tartakovsky

Clubs: Manhattan Fencing Center, Harvard University

Current FIE ranking: 16

Birthdate: May 21, 2000

World Championship results:

• 2016 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Saber Team Bronze

• 2017 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Cadet Women's Saber Individual Bronze

• 2018 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Saber Team Silver

Instagram: @elizabethtartakovsky 

Magda Skarbonkiewicz

Club: Oregon Fencing Alliance

Current FIE ranking: 29

Birthdate: Nov. 20, 2005

World Championship results:

• 2021 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Cadet Women's Saber Individual Gold

• 2022 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Cadet Women's Saber Individual Gold

• 2022 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Saber Individual Gold

• 2023 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Women's Saber Individual Gold

Maia Chamberlain

Clubs: Manhattan Fencing Center, Advance Fencing And Fitness Academy

Current FIE ranking: 55

Birthdate: June 5, 1998

Instagram: @maiachamberlain

Tatiana Nazlymov

Club: Nazlymov Fencing Foundation

Current FIE ranking: 42

Birthdate: Sept. 2, 2004

Instagram: @tati.nazlymov

 

Senior Men’s Saber

Eli Dershwitz OLY

Club: Tim Morehouse Fencing Club

Current FIE ranking: 11

Birthdate: Sept. 23, 1995

World Championship results:

• 2012 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Saber Individual Silver

• 2013 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Saber Individual Bronze

• 2014 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Saber Team Bronze

• 2015 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Saber Individual Gold

• 2015 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Saber Team Bronze

• 2018 Senior World Championships - Men's Saber Individual Silver

Instagram: @eli.dershwitz

Daryl Homer OLY

Club: Peter Westbrook Foundation

Current FIE ranking: 14

Birthdate: July 16, 1990

World Championship and Olympic results:

• 2007 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Cadet Men's Saber Individual Bronze

• 2009 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Saber Individual Bronze

• 2010 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Saber Team Bronze

• 2015 Senior World Championships - Men's Saber Individual Silver

• 2016 XXXI. Summer Olympic Games - Men's Saber Individual Silver

Instagram: @daryldhomer

Colin Heathcock

Clubs: Christian Bauer Academy, Manhattan Fencing Center

Current FIE ranking: 34

Birthdate: Dec. 20, 2005

World Championship results:

• 2022 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Cadet Men's Saber Individual Silver (Germany)

• 2022 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Saber Individual Gold (Germany)

• 2023 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Saber Individual Gold

• 2023 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Saber Team Gold

Instagram: @colinheathcock

Andrew Doddo

Clubs: Fencers Club Inc., New Jersey Fencing Alliance

Current FIE ranking: 70

Birthdate: Oct. 20, 1998

World Championship results:

• 2018 Junior/Cadet World Championships - Junior Men's Saber Team Bronze

Instagram: @andrewdoddo