MEDIA RELEASE
1 December 2023

NORTH MELBOURNE – Unlike many fencers,Andrey Tyshchenko came to the sport in adulthood, but others’ head start didn’t keep him from victory in the national veterans men’s foil championship today at the 2023 Australian and Oceania Senior, Veteran, and Australian Youth Circuit Fencing Championships.

“I started when I was almost a veteran, when I was 38, and I just enjoy the actions and the feeling of the competition and the feeling of the engagement of the body,” he said.  “I still enjoy it.”

Mr. Tyshchenko enthusiastically recommends fencing for people of any age. “Definitely, definitely, I think it’s a great sport for all age categories, because you can fence at 70 or 80 and be quite successful in your category.”

He trains three times a week, and while he started out fencing epee, now he concentrates mainly on foil. “I love the precision and speed, and it’s much more active than epee. You have to be active, you have to move. You can stay on the spot in epee, make counterattacks, have hand control, and you can have lucky actions. That never happens in foil. In foil you have to work hard and move hard.”

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