Sophomore Lillian Chu won the gold medal in the junior event of cadet women’s sabre at the Junior Olympics in Maryland on Feb. 28, beating a field of 130 competitors.
The Junior Olympics is a nationwide tournament that covers 32 sports. Anyone who meets the standards for entry is immediately qualified to compete. Because Chu is ranked high in the U.S. rolling points, she auto-qualified.
To prepare for the tournament, Chu took extra private lessons in addition to her usual group lessons and open fencing, or practice bouts, committing many hours after school.
Although the Junior Olympics is one of the biggest competitions she has participated in, Chu treated it “just like another tournament, just harder.”
“When I went in, I did not have the intention of getting first,” Chu said. “I just wanted to try and do my best. I would have been happy [to be] in the top eight.”
On the day of the tournament, Chu won 13 bouts without defeat, earning the gold medal. Because fencers were allowed only a half hour break during the 4.5-hour tournament, Chu had to conserve her energy. Following her coach’s advice, she also used different tactics in order to be unpredictable.
In the final bout, she defeated a tough opponent, Haley Fisher from Atlanta.
“Before the final bout, I felt really nervous,” Chu said. “[My opponent had] beaten me really easily before, so I was determined.”
The final score was 15-13, making the finale a close, intense match that was a great bout to watch.
“I was really tired by [the final bout], but I pulled through,” Chu said. “I was really happy [when I won]. Actually, my coach was happier than I was.”
Chu has been fencing since sixth grade and has a record of wins in nationwide competitions, such as first place in Division II Women’s Saber at the North American Cup (NAC) last year in March, eighth place at last year’s summer nationals in Ohio, and fifth in another NAC last year.
To compete in these tournaments, Chu has a rigorous training schedule. Every week, she practices for 13 hours at the Cardinal Fencing Club held on the Stanford University campus.
To maintain her grades and continue to compete in fencing tournaments, Chu must balance school and fencing.
“I retake tests and attend tutorials,” Chu said. “Before tournaments, I run around trying to get to all my teachers in time, and I do the same thing afterwards as well to make up for all the stuff I missed.”
Although keeping up with both school and fencing is “a lot of work,” Chu remains determined to reach her goal: representing the U.S. fencing team in the World Fencing Championship in Europe in April 2014.
“Only the top three in the nation can go,” Chu said. “I hope I’ll be good enough to make it.”