Photo Post II - Iris "The Fearless"

Photo Descriptions:

1.The infamous Anthony "Buckie" Leach-my former coach.

2.Here I am fencing a German girl who knows where. Just had to get an action shot in.

3. This is 1999 in Seoul, Korea when I took the bronze at World Championships. From left, Sabine Bau (German, no longer fences), Valentina Vezzali (Italian, still fences and has won the last two Olympic games along with being the most decorated fencer in history. She's the Michael Jordan of fencing.) Svetlana Boiko (Russian, a power house. She's in her thirties now and still fencing.)

4.The photos didn't put themselves in the right order but this photo is from 1997. These are some of my friends on the Junior World Championship team. The guy on the left, Cliff Bayer, was one of the best American fencers and one of my best friends. He is now retired from fencing and working in NYC doing something amazing.

5.This was at World Championships in 1999 to get to the top-four. On the left is Giovanna Trillini and I am on the right. Significance: my coach came back from a trip to Italy when I was about 11 or 12 and decided that he would model me after Giovanna Trillini (Olympic Champion in 1992 and living fencing legend). This was the first chance I ever had to fence her and I beat her in one of the most amazing matches I've ever had. I was down 12-8 going into the final round and I ended up beating her 15-12. I have fenced her several times since then but we had the opportunity to fence at the Sydney Olympic games, and she beat me there where it counted most.

I have been told that this girl or that girl in American fencing has been modeled to fence like me. A parent of a 13 year old (who is actually pretty amazing) gushes everytime she tells me, "my daughter fences just like you!" I am so flattered and I can only hope that these girls have an easier path in fencing (without too many injuries) and break all of my records.

That's it for the memorabilia for now. I'm going to go ice my knees after my first day back at the Rochester Fencing Club. My lesson with my coach Nat Goodhartz was amazing, and I look forward to another one-on-one lesson tomorrow morning. Until then-have a good Monday!