In the beginning, Joy Gong never wanted to start fencing. At the age of just seven, she was scared of the coach, and the daunting threat of being poked by a blade made it all the more nerve racking.
Her father Ron explained the long negotiation process of getting his oldest daughter into fencing: “Her brother had been fencing for six months, and we kept asking her to start for six months. She said no until one day she decided to get started.”
Now at age 11, Joy has ascended from being a complete beginner to becoming a national champion, as she took home the gold medal in the Y10 Women’s Saber at the 2023 USA Fencing Summer National tournament. This event in Phoenix, AZ is the top tournament in the U.S. and features over 5,000 athletes ranging from Joy’s age all the way to 80-year-olds. Competing with fencers her age from all over the country, Joy remained undefeated in the single elimination tournament and won a tense 10-9 victory in the championship match.
Ron was admittedly “a little nervous” as the final match transpired, but he remained confident in Joy’s technique and strategy. Joy dealt with her own nerves pre-match, but once it began, she felt at ease. “When I’m fencing, everything else kind of goes away. All I can think about is the match.”
Joy will attend Brown Middle School as a sixth grader in the fall and is excited to be in middle school, where students “do not have to stand in lines anymore and have a little more freedom.” While Joy might be new to middle school, she is no stranger to impressive accolades. The Newton Highlands resident’s locked-in mentality has been key to her success as she travels all over to compete in tournaments. The Gong’s dining room table is covered with medals and trophies from her earlier accomplishments, including a bronze medal in 2022 Pan American Youth Championship at Lima, Peru.
Joy hopes to continue fencing throughout high school and college, even though her future high school, Newton South, does not have a team. Joy fences at the International Fencing Club in West Roxbury with her coach, Cesar Morales, of whom she definitely isn’t scared any more. “She only wants to work with [Cesar]. He’s wonderful,” said Ron.
Joy understands that her sport is rather uncommon, especially for someone at her age in Newton. However, she encourages other kids to give fencing a try. When asked about what she would say to someone who wanted to start fencing, Joy reiterated the sense of courage she had shown during the match: “Don’t be afraid of the point and don’t be afraid of the coaches.”
Her chosen weapon, the saber, is known as “hack and slash fencing” because it allows fencers to use the entire blade to score a touch. While Joy has had immense success with her technique and loves to “whack people with metal sticks,” it has come with some downsides. “[The mask] stinks a little bit,” Joy admitted with a smile as her father laughed.
Joey Giragos is a Fig City News summer intern.
