FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DC Fencers Club Salutes Team USA on Golden Results at Veteran Worlds
Silver Spring, MD, Oct. 21, 2022 – DC Fencers Club member Valerie Asher took her seventh trip to the FIE Veteran Fencing World Championships and came back with gold in Veteran Team Women’s Epee. Asher qualified for world championships alongside fellow DCFCers Dick Richards and Jeff Snider. They were among 72 Team USA fencers in the Vet 50, 60, 70 age groups competing in epee, sabre, and foil.
“Vet Worlds” is the most prestigious competition for fencers aged 50 and up. Competitors earn spots from their best results at national events. This year’s event was held in Zadar, Croatia and American fencers made their mark, racking up more gold medal finishes than the last World Championship held in 2019. “The Star-Spangled Banner” played a staggering seven times as Team USA dominated the podium, edging out both Italy and France with 19 medals.
DC Fencers Club has sent fencers to every Veteran World Championships since 1998, when club member Kaz Campe set the standard by winning gold in Vet 60 Men’s Epee.
After placing sixth in the individual Vet 60 Women’s Epee event, Asher earned a spot in the Vet Women’s Team event, which includes the top two individual finishers for the Vet 50, 60, and 70 age groups.
The Women’s Épée team topped their 2019 Vet Worlds bronze medal finish and replaced it with gold.. With their win, Team USA edged out familiar foe Italy as the medal leader of the 2022 Veteran World ER Championships. Exceeding the United States medal finish from 2020, the Women’s Epee Team thriller of a final was a perfect ending to a Red, White and Blue reign.
DCFC Head Coach Janusz Smolenski coached Asher and teammate Dick Richards at the event, and helped coach the women’s team and Vet 70 Men’s Champion Bruno Goossens to gold as well. Richards finished 18th in a very strong field of 89 fencers in Vet 60 ME; he also fenced on the US squad in the Vet Epee team event.
We salute all of Team USA and offer a special salute to our longtime clubmate and her fellow Team USA Champions.
Women’s Team Épée (Gold)
Bonnie Aher (Shoreline, Wa)
Valerie Asher (Bethesda, Md)
Christina Gordet (Coral Gables, Fla.)
Elizabeth Kocab (Farmington Hills, Mich.)
Sandra Marchant (Prospect, Ct)
Ann Marie Totemeier (Boulder, Colo.)
Full results of the 2022 FIE Veteran Fencing World Championships
https://www.fencingtimelive.com/tournaments/eventSchedule/B2B84B1100404EF1BBD9C40C0F02C1C8#today
About DC Fencers Club
Whether you are an elite fencer or a recreational fencer, DCFC welcomes you. For more than 30 years, DC Fencers Club (DCFC) has consistently produced national and international champions. We offer instruction through classes, camps, workshops, and individual lessons. DCFC coaches have a combined 100 years of training, competition, and teaching experience, and they include credentialed fencing masters and National Champions. DC Fencers Club promotes excellence, sportsmanship, and safety in a friendly environment.
#