youth fencing

http://brooklyndaily.com/stories/2014/14/mm-young-fencing-champ-2014-04-04-bk_2014_14.html

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Courier Life’s Brooklyn Daily
By Nichelle Henry
April 3, 2014

Superlative swordsman Ethan Kushnerik came in first at the 37th annual International Children’s Fencing Tournament Challenge, held in Wroclaw, Poland, March 27–31.

The five-day tournament is considered one of the premier fencing contests in the world, drawing 1,400 competitors under age 15 from 21 different countries.

Kushnerik was one of 19 kids representing the United States, and he won one of the two gold medals taken home by Americans.

He crossed swords with 142 fencers from around the world in back-to-back matches, fighting for seven hours straight, and he remained undefeated.

After the last competitor met his blade, Kushnerik didn’t even realize that he had just won the gold, because he was so focused on the swordplay.

“I was just concentrating on hitting may target,” he said.

It was that mental discipline that made Kushnerik an international champion, according to his coach.

“For 10-year-old athletes, competing at such a big, international event, it’s a great accomplishment to be able to maintain such a strong physical and mental focus untill the end,” said Misha Mokretsov, head coach at the New York Fencing Academy in Coney Island.

This was Kushnerik’s first international competition, though he had also recently won silver and bronze medals at the North American Cup in Nashville, Tenn.

Kushnerik said his biggest challenge in Wroclaw was adapting to the various fencing styles of his European opponents, who come out of different traditions. Mokretsov agreed that dealing with the variety of fighting techniques is what make international tournaments so demanding.

“This was a world event of the highest magnitude,” said Mokretsov. “You need to be very flexible and able to adjust to different fencing styles.”

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/04/04/brooklyn-10-year-old-captures-world-fencing-championship/

A 10-Year-Old Boy From Brooklyn Is The Winner of the International Children’s Fencing Tournament, After Competing In Poland.
Ethan Kushnerik Is Used To Having Success, Regardless Of The Circumstances

CBS 2’s Alice Gainer reports
April 4, 2014 6:46 PM

NEW YORK (CBS NewYork) — He brought home the gold.

A 10-year-old from Mill Basin, Brooklyn recently took Wroclaw, Poland by storm, grabbing top honors at the 37th annual International Children’s Fencing Tournament Challenge.

Ethan Kushnerik competed against some of the best fencers in the world, and did so under some pretty unusual circumstances, CBS 2’s Alice Gainer reported Friday.

Ethan he likes to play around with his brothers and sister, enjoys math and art and, oh yeah, he’s pretty good at a very difficult sport.

“When people win in fencing they just scream,” he said.

Ethan was one of 19 children representing the United States, and competed with 142 fencers from all over the world in his category.

He said he trains four hours a day five days a week.

And he has a lot of medals.

Not bad for a kid who only picked up the sport two years ago.

Above Ethan’s medals is a sign that reads “never give up,” something he certainly didn’t do even as he dealt with a bout of the stomach flu on the morning of the international competition.

“By the time we got to the elevator, which is not that far, maybe a few steps, Ethan was out of breath,” said Vadim Kushnerik, Ethan’s father.

The elder Kushnerik said he wasn’t so sure that his son would compete, let alone go undefeated.

“Through the whole competition I kept not feeling good and I kind of didn’t even know what was happening,” Ethan said.

But in the end the humble, young boy came out on top.

“I’m very proud of Ethan’s accomplishments. I’m very proud watching him work hard,” Vadim Kushnerik said.

Ethan offered the following piece of advice to other would-be champs:

“Don’t give up on your fencing,” he said.

Even if you have the stomach flu.

Ethan said he hopes to pick up some more medals, and, who knows, maybe one day we’ll see him at the Olympics.