23-Year-Old USA Fencing Star Shocks World No. 2 to Secure a Coveted Bronze at Lima World Cup

Elizabeth Tartakovsky, a former ballet dancer, found her passion for fencing long ago. She was intrigued by the way it seemed challenging yet elegant at the same time. But what remains constant is her parents’ encouragement and her resilience toward victory. Transitioning from graceful ballet dancing to thrilling fencing was a tough call to take. Yet she fell in love with the unique allure and excitement of the sport.

Her dedication to fencing has earned her several accolades, including a recent bronze medal in the Lima World Cup. It took place in Lima, Peru, where she showcased an incredible performance. The NCAA champion at the women’s Sabre is also a silver medalist who first secured the place as the First Team All-America and First Team All-Northeast Region.

USA Fencing Underdog’s triumph

Elizabeth Tartakovsky’s victory came at the event, which started on February 9 and continued until the 11th. The official Instagram page of USA Fencing shared the news with the caption, “Now that’s how you llama-nate the competition. Congrats on your bronze in Lima, Elizabeth Tartakovsky!”

As the Paris Olympics are knocking at the doors of athletes, Tartakovsky secured her place through the semi-finals with a score of 15-5. Well, in that case, she is all ready to drive through the road to Paris. In addition to her medals, she excelled in the Academic All-District title during her collegiate years. The fencer came in for the highlight when she performed at the NCAA Championship, with a score of 16-7 and a decisive win against Maggie Shealy in the semi-finals.

Last year, at international competitions in Europe and Canada, five talented fencers from Harvard showcased their skills, among which Tartakovsky secured 13th place. This time the rising star left her fans in awe-struck with her performance, as she not only claimed the victory but also defeated World no 2. Theodora Gkountoura from to covet her name on the list. However, later in another match, Olga Kharlan secured a spot in the semi-finals with gold in hand by defeating Tartakovsky with a victory score of 15:12

The little ballet dancer took over the fencing realm

As a child, she was very energetic and had a brimming interest in exploring various sports such as ballet, tennis, and swimming. In 2008, she saw athletes fencing on TV and to her surprise, she spotted her uncle, who happened to be her future coach, Yury Gelma. He was celebrating with the U.S. men’s Saber Team and how they achieved success.

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Witnessing that has captivated her interest in sports, as once in an interview she shared, “After witnessing something so unique and beautiful, I was hooked!” What drew her towards it was the unique blend of athleticism and creativity. Her coach has always emphasized that, akin to fencing, the integral part involves traps and outsmarting your opponents. Fans are now eagerly waiting to see her performance at the upcoming events.

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