Valerie Asher
Athlete Bio#
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Height
5'9"
Age
64
Hometown
Bethesda, MD
Education
Bachelor's from Yale College, MD from Yale School of Medicine
Birthplace: Fullerton, Calif.
Occupation: Physician, specializing in otolaryngology
Club: DC Fencers Club
Coaches: Janusz Smolenski and Robert Suchorski
Family: Nieces Kara and Hannah Asher, nephew and epee fencer Jacob Asher
Hobbies: Fencing, skiing, gardening, cooking, travel and embroidery
How She Started Fencing: As a walk-on, junior varsity foil fencer at Yale, under the legendary Henry Harutunian
Number of Years Fencing: 20
Who Has Inspired Her Fencing Career: Her late friend Ben Naitove, who introduced her to fencing; her first coach Henry Harutunian, who took her as a sophomore walk-on with more enthusiasm than talent; and her training partners - in particular Kat Holmes, Amanda Sirico and Rebecca Chimahusky
Biggest Obstacle She's Had to Overcome: Coming back to fencing after being treated for cancer
Something People Would Be Surprised to Know: She can order dim sum in Cantonese
Current U.S. Ranking: No. 3 (Veteran 50-59 Epee)
Veteran World Championship Teams: 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012 (Bronze), 2011
Occupation: Physician, specializing in otolaryngology
Club: DC Fencers Club
Coaches: Janusz Smolenski and Robert Suchorski
Family: Nieces Kara and Hannah Asher, nephew and epee fencer Jacob Asher
Hobbies: Fencing, skiing, gardening, cooking, travel and embroidery
How She Started Fencing: As a walk-on, junior varsity foil fencer at Yale, under the legendary Henry Harutunian
Number of Years Fencing: 20
Who Has Inspired Her Fencing Career: Her late friend Ben Naitove, who introduced her to fencing; her first coach Henry Harutunian, who took her as a sophomore walk-on with more enthusiasm than talent; and her training partners - in particular Kat Holmes, Amanda Sirico and Rebecca Chimahusky
Biggest Obstacle She's Had to Overcome: Coming back to fencing after being treated for cancer
Something People Would Be Surprised to Know: She can order dim sum in Cantonese
Current U.S. Ranking: No. 3 (Veteran 50-59 Epee)
Veteran World Championship Teams: 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012 (Bronze), 2011
Results
2019:
- Gold - December North American Cup (Veteran 60-69)
- Gold - December North American Cup (Senior Team)
- Silver - USA Fencing National Championships (Veteran 50-59)
- Bronze - April North American Cup (Veteran 50-59)
- 10th - April North American Cup (Veteran Open)
- 11th - December North American Cup (Veteran Open)
- 30th - Veteran World Championships (50-59)
2018:
- Eighth - April North American Cup (Veteran Open)
- 10th - USA Fencing National Championships (Veteran 50-59)
- 18th - April North American Cup (Veteran 50-59)
2017:
- Gold - April North American Cup (Veteran 50-59)
- Silver - USA Fencing National Championships (Veteran 50-59)
- Silver - December North American Cup (Veteran Open)
- Bronze - December North American Cup (Veteran 50-59)
- 11th - April North American Cup (Veteran Open)
- 20th - Veteran World Championships (50-59)
- 64th - USA Fencing National Championships (Division IA)
2016:
- Silver - December North American Cup (Veteran 50-59)
- Bronze - December North American Cup (Veteran Open)
- Bronze - USA Fencing National Championships (Veteran 50-59)
- Bronze - April North American Cup (Veteran Open)
- Sixth - April North American Cup (Veteran 50-59)
- 18th - Veteran World Championships (50-59)
- 22nd - USA Fencing National Championships (Division IA)
- 61st - December North American Cup (Division I)
2015:
- Bronze - March North American Cup (Veteran 50-59)
- Bronze - December North American Cup (Veteran 50-59)
- Fourth - Veteran World Championships (Team)
- 11th - USA Fencing National Championships (Veteran 50-59)
- 14th - Veteran World Championships (50-59)
- 60th - USA Fencing National Championships (Division IA)
- 61st - January North American Cup (Division I)
2014:
- Gold - December North American Cup (Veteran 50-59)
2013:
- Gold - November North American Cup (Senior Team)
- Silver - March North American Cup (Veteran 50-59)
- Fifth - December North American Cup (Veteran 50-59)
- Ninth - USA Fencing National Championships (Veteran 50-59)
- 21st - March North American Cup (Veteran Open)
- 40th - USA Fencing National Championships (Division IA)
2012:
- Gold - March North American Cup (Veteran Open)
- Silver - March North American Cup (Veteran 50-59)
- Bronze - USA Fencing National Championships (Division I Team)
- Bronze - Veteran World Championships (50-59)
- Fifth - December North American Cup (Veteran 50-59)
- 10th - USA Fencing National Championships (Division IA)
- 17th - USA Fencing National Championships (Veteran 50-59)
- 37th - USA Fencing National Championships (Division I)
- 45th - December North American Cup (Division I)
- 47th - November North American Cup (Division I)
2011:
- Silver - USA Fencing National Championships (Veteran 50-59)
- Silver - North American Cup D (Veteran 50-59)
- Bronze - December North American Cup (Veteran Open)
- Fifth - December North American Cup (Veteran 50-59)
- Fifth - North American Cup D (Veteran Open)
- Sixth - Veteran World Championships (50-59)
- 25th - USA Fencing National Championships (Division I)
2010:
- Bronze - North American Cup A (Veteran 50-59)
- 25th - North American Cup F (Division I)
- 26th - North American Cup A (Division I)
- 38th - North American Cup D (Division I)
- 41st - USA Fencing National Championships (Division I)
- 47th - December North American Cup (Division I)
2009:
- Bronze - North American Cup C (Veteran Open)
- Bronze - Istanbul Satellite Tournament
2008:
- Ninth - USA Fencing National Championships (Division I)