The 18-year-old’s journey is not a usual one. While most of that age are preparing for their college days, the fencing star is getting ready for the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The New Jersey native took a year to focus and prepare herself for the event. During this time, she didn’t participate in any championships and developed her skills for the competition.

Lola Possick is a team member of the U.S. national team for women’s saber fencing. According to Possick, she fell for this sport at the age of 7 when her older brother Owen introduced fencing to her. At the age of 8, she participated in her first regional tournament. But the big chance came when she showcased her skill in the international tournament in Hungary at the age of 13. Now she has a bigger goal to aim for.

A year-long wait to chase the gold

The Hungary competition was an adjustment for the middle schooler; thus, despite facing the challenges, she remained dedicated to her journey. Possic passed out of school in June of the previous year, and since then she has been preparing for the Olympic qualification. Previously, she used to train five days a week, but the looming event made her routine more rigorous, according to SILifestyle. 

A typical Possick day would consist of a variety of physical activities, which included a strength workout, team training sessions, gym classes, free bouting, and one-on-one practice with her coach. As Possick explained, “I’ve been training two times a day, almost every day of the week, apart from Sunday, when I have my rest day. So it’s definitely a bit of an adjustment to get used to training a lot more.” But there is a bigger goal as well.

Possick said, “Despite my main goal being to make the Olympics, I also really want to find enjoyment in the process of becoming a better athlete, getting stronger, getting faster, and fine-tuning my technique in my sport.” She is also very conscious about giving herself time beyond the sport. Therefore, she has taken some calculated steps toward it.

Taking workout and recovery together on the road to Paris 2024

Possick has started taking mathematics and French classes lately. This is because she wants “to be the best version of myself in my sport and also just as a person, as a balanced human.” Despite being resilient both on and off the fencing strip, she initially found it difficult to adjust to the intense training. That’s why she participated in hobbies, which would keep her mental health in balance.

Also read: USA Women’s Fencing Team’s Paris Olympics 2024 Qualification Sets the Stage for an Exciting Update Across Disciplines

Possick found solace in activities like hiking and crocheting, which gave her a much-demanding break from the training. But that’s not it, as she also likes to participate in modeling, which was once suggested by her family friend. With all these, Possick finds that she now has “a lot more time for recovery”. Fans are now waiting to witness what more the young athlete got for the Summer Olympics.

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