USA Fencing

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — All eyes are on this summer’s Olympic Games Paris 2024, where a talented team of fencers gives Team USA fans plenty of reason for optimism. But just a bit further on the horizon, a crop of exciting young junior (under 20) fencers is proving that the excitement surrounding U.S. fencing will only grow through the Los Angeles 2028 Games and beyond. 

With the 2024 Junior & Cadet Fencing World Championships over, the 2023-24 FIE Junior Season has officially concluded. 

That means the final junior world rankings are in, and it’s great news Team USA: three individuals and three teams are ranked No. 1 in the world.

Individually, three U.S. fencers finished on top of the world in their weapon:

• Leehi Machulsky (Academy Of Fencing Masters) in Junior Women’s Epee

• Samuel Imrek (Alliance Fencing Academy) in Junior Men’s Epee

• Chase Emmer (Massialas Foundation (M Team), University Of Notre Dame) in Junior Men’s Foil

No other country had two fencers — let alone three — finish as the top-ranked junior in a weapon this season.

On the team side, Team USA’s Women’s Epee, Men’s Foil and Men’s Saber squads also finished No. 1 in the world. No other country had three teams finish No. 1.

Coincidentally, those three teams finished their season in the best possible way: with a gold medal and world championship at the 2024 Junior & Cadet Worlds in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

In addition to recognizing the athletes on these teams, we must congratulate the national coaches of these squads — Natalie Dostert, Greg Massialas and Akhi Spencer-El — as well as the personal coaches, assistant coaches, parents without whom this world ranking wouldn’t be possible.