FENCING: History will be made in Nanjing, China this August, when Edward ‘Ned’ Fitzgerald becomes the first Australian to compete in Fencing at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG).
FENCING: History will be made in Nanjing, China this August, when Edward ‘Ned’ Fitzgerald becomes the first Australian to compete in Fencing at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG).
Fitzgerald, 17, was first introduced to the sport of fencing when he started playing with Star Wars light sabres as a young boy. He will now wear the prestigious green and gold colours at the Youth Olympics as the sole fencing representative for Australia.
Fitzgerald’s Mother, Victoria, couldn’t control her excitement when she found out of her son’s selection.
“We couldn’t be more proud of him or happier for him and also his coach (Robert Di Pasquale) and all the administrators at Fencing Australia who has helped him along the way” Mrs Fitzgerald said.
The Victorian teenager gained his place at the Nanjing Youth Olympics after outstanding results at the Junior Fencing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria last month.
The Star Wars enthusiast finished 28th out of 120 competitors in the Men’s Foil at the Championships.
“I don’t believe it,” she said. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt that excited.”
The young fencer has dominated national competitions for the last three years, achieving Foils and Epee gold in both Junior and Cadet age groups.
Ned has recently returned home and started fulltime training under Robert Di Pasquale. The fencer will compete in a number of interstate competitions before the 2014 YOG begin in August.
“Five training days per week,” Di Pasquale said. “Ned will be training in a cycle up until two weeks before the YOG, then he’ll be off physical so he can be completely recovered for Nanjing.”
The Blacklords Fencing Club Junior has ticked off his first goal by gaining selection to Nanjing 2014. After the YOG, Ned’s ambition will be to gain a spot at either Rio 2016 and/or Tokyo 2020.
“Ned announced that he would like to make the Olympics. We have supported that desire to the best of our ability,” Mrs Fitzgerald said.
“The memory of competing at the YOG will serve as an inspiration to get going when times get tough, and to boost confidence that he really can make the Olympics.”
Fencing will be held at the Nanjing International Expo Centre on 17 - 20 August. The Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games will be held from 16 – 28 August. They are the second Youth Olympics after Singapore hosted in the inaugural Games in 2010.
Phil Brent
olympics.com.au
@AUSOlympicTeam
