By Skyler Liverant
When I reflect on my fencing journey, nearly all of the credit for my development—both as an athlete and as a person—belongs to New York Fencing Academy. Although I am much older now and competing at a different stage of my career, NYFA will always feel like home. It is the place I return to, the foundation I fall back on, and the environment that shaped everything I have achieved in fencing.
From a young age, my coach Misha believed in me—often more than I believed in myself. What set Misha apart was not just his technical expertise, but his honesty. He was always willing to say the hard things, the things that are uncomfortable to hear but necessary if you want to be great. With Misha, there was never a finish line. Success was never treated as a reason to relax; instead, it was always a reminder that there was more to achieve. That mindset became ingrained in me early on and continues to shape how I approach challenges today.
One of the most meaningful moments of my fencing career came in 2021, when I medaled at the Cadet World Championships in Cairo. That medal was not just a personal milestone—it was the first world championship medal ever for Misha and NYFA. Standing on that podium, knowing what it meant for the coach and club that had invested so much in me, was incredibly emotional. It felt like a way to give back to the people and place that made me the fencer—and person—I am today. That moment will always represent far more than a result; it represents years of belief, sacrifice, and shared commitment.
Beyond individual coaching, the NYFA community itself is something truly special. From a young age, many of my closest friends came from the club. Everyone shared in each other’s successes, celebrated wins together, and supported one another through losses. Just as importantly, those relationships extended beyond the fencing strip. We were friends outside of practice, which created an environment where people could thrive both competitively and personally. That sense of community made the demanding nature of high-level fencing sustainable and meaningful.
As I grew older, I began to realize how deeply the lessons I learned at NYFA extended beyond fencing. At the club, hard work was never optional—it was the baseline expectation. Discipline was required. If you didn’t push yourself, you didn’t improve. And if you didn’t improve, you got left behind. I watched peers struggle with that reality at times, and while it was difficult to see, it reflected a truth about the real world. Professionally, the same principles apply: if you do not work hard, stay disciplined, and continually challenge yourself, you will fall behind. Fencing at NYFA prepared me for that reality long before I encountered it elsewhere.
The coaching environment at NYFA also deserves special recognition. While Misha has been my personal coach since I was eight years old, the culture at the club has always been one of collective investment. Coaches like Sergey, Yarik, Anton, and many others have supported me throughout the years, often stepping in when they didn’t have to. It was never about whose student you were; it was always about helping everyone succeed. That “one for all, all for one” mentality created an environment of mutual respect, accountability, and genuine care.
Looking back, NYFA gave me far more than fencing skills or medals. It gave me structure, discipline, resilience, and an understanding that growth is continuous. It taught me that excellence requires honesty, effort, and the willingness to be uncomfortable. Those lessons have followed me into every part of my life, from academics to professional pursuits, and they continue to guide how I set goals and measure success.
No matter where my fencing career takes me, NYFA will always be the place that shaped it—and shaped me. It is more than a club. It is home.
