Photo credit: Ed Chiu
MEDIA RELEASE
5 December 2023
LIDOR SHAY WINS AUSTRALIAN AND OCEANIA WOMEN’S EPEE COMPETITION
NORTH MELBOURNE – Victorian fencer Lidor Shay won yesterday’s Australian and Oceania veteran women’s foil competition, as part of the 2023 Australian and Oceania Senior, Veteran, and Australian Youth Circuit Fencing Championships.
She’s enthusiastic about the benefits of fencing. “I think it’s really important to keep active, keep a healthy lifestyle, engage in sport as you age. I’m over 40, and fencing keeps you active, healthy, and socialised,” she said. “I think when you [fence] at an older age, the perspective is very different. You do it for yourself; you don’t do it for your coaches, or your parents, or your school. For me, that means if I lose, I only disappoint myself, and if I win, it’s an achievement.”
This is actually the second round of fencing in her life. “I fenced as a young girl from around 11 to around 18, and I stopped for around 20 years,” she said. “Life happens, you have kids, you get a job, you get a mortgage, and you just get sucked into it and you don’t prioritise yourself. As the kids grew up and I got reconnected with myself, I missed this. I missed doing something that I really, really enjoy, and I said, ‘Why not?’”
She encourages older women to fence even if they didn’t start as children. “In our club we have a women’s only beginner course exactly for women who might feel like they want that kind of connection,” she said. “It works on cardio and strength, and it engages your brain as well.”
She’s keen to keep competing. “I do this [national competition] every year now. A lot of the women [in our club] already go to world championships; I’m still considered young, and 2025 is the first year they’ll do a 40-50 age category. So hopefully, before I’m 50 I’ll get to one of those.”
Results for each event are being posted in real time at https://www.fencingtimelive.com/tournaments/eventSchedule/8284EE098F63431FA0F03B468EE30E0A#today
The 2023 Australian and Oceania Senior, Veteran, and Australian Youth Circuit Fencing Championships continue through Tuesday, 5 December. Photo and interview opportunities with competitors will be available throughout the competition.
Photo credit: Ed Chiu
For more information
Laura E. Goodin
Media Officer
media@fencingvictoria.org
