USA Fencing

From almost the moment Joey Brinson first donned fencing gear and dueled with an opponent, he knew the sport was for him.

Having been an athlete all his life growing up in Mississippi — playing football, soccer, baseball and running track before a car accident at age 17 left him a paraplegic — Brinson knew he had some athletic pluses. In the nine years since he first tried wheelchair fencing, he’s been able to rely on his physical tools.

“I have great speed,” said Brinson, 39. “My strength is very good. I’m not a big guy; I’m 130-something pounds, but for my size I’m very strong. I have a pretty good reach, and that’s really key in wheelchair fencing.”

Plus, he said because he played so many sports, he knew he had the work ethic to get better.

“You can’t just show up and expect to be good if you don’t put in the work before you get there,” he said ... more>