Back in February, sophomore Jackie Hsiao of the UR Fencing Club competed in the 2025 Fencing Junior Olympics in Charlotte, NC. To her, it was the culmination of six years of preparation and her first time competing against elite fencers at a national level.
Hsiao’s fencing journey began at a summer camp before her eighth grade year. She hated it. Between the long hours spent sweating through fencing gear and having to compete against more experienced opponents, Hsiao ended her days tired and frustrated. Nevertheless, her time at camp kindled an interest in the sport within her, one which she would pursue in high school.
At her New Haven, Connecticut high school, Hsiao found a welcoming community of fencers and coaches, some of whom also went to participate in February’s Junior Olympics. In high school, Hsiao developed and refined her skills with the foil (a poking weapon targeting the torso), the smallest and lightest of the three weapons used in fencing.
In her senior year, Hsiao suffered a devastating ACL tear which put her fencing career in jeopardy. “I had a lot of doubts after I tore my ACL that I never would get back into fencing,” she said. After surgery and nine months of grueling physical therapy two to three times a week, Hsiao began fencing again.
Regarding the changes to her fencing after the injury, Hsiao said, “I’ve always been a more defensive fencer so my fencing hasn’t changed too much after my injury. I do have to think more about getting my back leg under me while I fence.”
Beyond the physical alterations to her style, Hsiao spoke on the mental adjustments she made to compete at a high level. She emphasized the importance of positive thinking and mental preparation, saying, “If you think you’re going to do badly or you’re not going to do well, it does have an impact on how you fence.” Moreover, Hsiao said she learned to “trust [her] instincts and stop over-thinking during competition” in response to her experiences in recent bouts, including those at the Junior Olympics.
Hsiao also revealed the life lessons fencing has taught her, saying, “Persistence is key and losing is one of the best ways to learn.” She watches back all of her bouts, which her mother and teammates record.
She said that her family has been instrumental in supporting her through her fencing journey, from the very beginning to most recently at the Junior Olympics. Hsiao recalled the moment she learned that she qualified for the Junior Olympics via email and said that she immediately called her mother to break the news. On the subject of family, Hsiao said, “My family was very supportive and excited because they knew it was something I wanted to go to for a while.”
At the Junior Olympics, Hsiao met two of her favorite fencers: three-time Olympic gold medalist Lee Kiefer and fellow Olympian and Princeton fencer Maia Chamberlain.
Her next goal in fencing is to continue competing at a national level and earn a rating from the United States Fencing Association through victories in their competitions.
Most recently, Hsiao was elected as the next president of the University of Rochester Fencing Club, while continuing to coach women’s foilists there. In April, she will lead her team to Pennsylvania for the United States Association of Collegiate Fencing Clubs Championship. There, UR will field a full team of 19 fencers for the first time in their history.
