Competition is ageless: DC athletes go for gold at Veteran World Fencing Championships
September 24, 2019
Washington, D.C. – Competitive sports are not just for the young. Three Maryland fencers from DC Fencers Club (DCFC) prove the point by representing Team USA at the 23rd Veteran Fencing World Championships, October 5-11 in Cairo, Egypt. “Vet Worlds” is the premiere fencing event for fencers over age 50 and is conducted by the International Fencing Federation (FIE). They are among many Team USA athletes who earned spots based on best best two out of three results from the 2018-2019 USA Fencing national season.
Valerie Asher, 58, of Bethesda, Md., is a six-time member of the Vet World team, and a bronze medalist (Vet 50 Women’s Epee) at the 2012 Vet Worlds in Krems, Austria. By day, Asher is a physician specializing in Otolaryngology in Silver Spring, Md. She reflected on her last year in the Vet 50-59 age category. “I’m at the upper end of my age bracket so you know there’s a tension between knowing that there are younger fencers coming in, who may be a little quicker (sic) just by virtue of being younger … but I have experience.”
Theo Pary, 73, of Highland, Md., is a two-time Vet World Team member (Vet 60 Men’s Epee, and now Vet 70 Men’s Epee). Pary remarked on the tough field of U.S. competitors he had to beat to earn a spot on the Vet Worlds team. “I have to admit, I thought it would be an easy competition, but it was not. All the Vet 70s are in good shape, they know how to fence. There are no weak 70s fencers.” An emigre from France, Pary founded Pastrystars.com, a national specialty baking ingredients company based in Laurel, now run by his two sons. Pary has trained at DCFC for 20 years.
Joe Deucher, 49, of Rockville, Md., made the Vet World Team in his very first year of fencing in the Vet 50 category (Men’s Epee). His game plan to make the cut? “I’ve been a three-weapon fencer all my life, but a good friend of mine recommended that I need to focus if I want to make the world team. So I focused on epee, which is my strongest weapon, and I made the team.” Deucher, a cyber-security expert in the federal government, has trained at DCFC for eight years.
“The challenge that we have as older adults, when we wake up in the morning, that’s what we have to work with that day, and you want to cherish and protect that as much as possible. And the way to do that is through exercise.” Deucher commented.
Veteran Worlds is an important competition for multiple reasons, according to DCFC Head Coach Janusz Smolenski. “Veteran Worlds is the prize for participating in fencing for a long time. There are a lot of amateurs who started at a later age, or were not fantastic in the beginning. They love fencing, and continue doing it. Fencing in America and around the world is becoming more popular because there are many enthusiasts whose passion is to participate in competition and practice. We cannot forget that this group is also the biggest supporter of fencing.”
Veteran fencing (for age 40+ to 70+) is growing category that offers mature athletes an opportunity for serious competition in a sport that rewards mental acuity as much as physical agility. Since 2017, the US Fencing Association has even hosted Vet 80 exhibition events.
Asher noted the spirit of sport that has propelled her fencing career. “When I walked into this club on a snowy day in February of 2000, I never thought that I would be a competitor, a serious competitor, or competitor the world level. So you can come into it not knowing where you’re going. But have an open mind and find a community that will encourage you to do your best. I feel very fortunate that I walked into this place where people kept telling me I could do better, and do better, and do better.”
Stateside fans can cheer on Asher, Pary, Deucher, and all of Team USA with live results on the official Vet Worlds website.
About fencing competitions
Fencing competitions in all three weapons (sabre, epee, and foil) usually consist of two rounds of bouting. In the first round of “pools,” six to eight fencers compete in a round-robin of 5-touch/3 minute bouts. Pool results inform the seeding of the next round, Direct Elimination (aka “DEs”). These elimination bouts are 15 touch/9 minute bouts (10 touch/6 minute bouts in the veteran category. Winners of DE rounds advance to the table of 64, 32, 16, semifinals, and finals.
About DC Fencers Club
For 29 years, DC Fencers Club (DCFC) has consistently produced national and international champions. We polish the skills of fencers who strive to compete at the highest level, and we encourage fencers of all ages and ability levels. For more information on classes, camps, and lessons, visit us at www.dcfencing.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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