‘Exciting time:’ Regina fencer hopes bronze medal brings attention to sport

A Regina fencer looked on with pride as Canada won its first Olympic medal in the sport earlier this week.

Eleanor Harvey from Ontario won the bronze medal in the women’s individual foil at the Paris games.

Regina Fencing‘s Julia Creusot believes that Canada’s performance in this year’s Olympics might draw more attention to the sport.

The fencing club has around 50 members, including those in youth and beginner classes. The club also offers wheelchair fencing.

It provides high performance coaches in two weapons (epee, and sabre) and provides masks, jackets and blades for members, who are required to purchase a fencing glove for hygiene reasons.

Creusot was originally introduced to the sport by a friend about 15 years ago, and  is a past member of Canada’s national fencing team.

She has competed in several world championships and the Pan American games. She was also training to compete in Paris but was derailed by an injury she suffered in 2020.

Creusot is now training to compete in the 2028 Summer Olympics.

“We’ve had some of our best finishes ever in both men’s and women’s events, so it’s a very exciting time,” Creusot told guest host Kevin Martel on the Greg Morgan Morning Show on Aug. 2.

“I’m an up and coming member of Team Canada so I’m really looking forward to the future of fencing, both provincially and nationally.”

Like many hobbies and activities and industries, the Covid-19 pandemic severely impacted Regina’s fencing community and Creusot said the group had been trying to rebuild ever since.

“Other sports have seen similar trends where Canada does really well in one sport — like soccer, for example — and now it’s one of Canada’s most popular sports.”

Creusot said it’s not likely that fencing will ever become Canada’s most popular sport but still maintains faith in the sport’s ability to grow.

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