Fingers curled tightly around the foil handle and feet firmly planted on the strip, freshman Alber Wu braces himself for the split of a referee’s whistle. He draws a deep breath and filters out the clamor around him, determined to place in the 2023 USA Fencing National Championships. Advancing in a series of lunges and thrusts while assessing his opponent’s every move, Wu manages to land a touch, ultimately placing first in the Youth 12 Men’s Foil.
Wu first started fencing in second grade at a week-long summer program after being inspired by a family friend. Energized by the competitiveness of the camp where he won his first fencing matches, Wu was eager to seek out more of the thrill. As a result, he joined the fencing club Academy of Fencing Masters, where he began training with the foil weapon under the guidance of Coach Natasha Maximovich.
In 2021, when Wu’s old fencing program closed, he switched to the Silicon Valley Fencing Centre, where he currently receives instruction from Coach Oleksii Muruhin. While Wu found it difficult to part ways with his old coach and adjust to the rigorous new environment, Wu knew the shift would be beneficial for his future development.
“It took a bit of time to adapt because training was different and I barely knew anyone there,” Wu said. “I had to slowly become closer with the coaches and fencers.”
In elementary school, alongside fencing, he had also participated in basketball and swimming. However, as Wu’s fencing skills advanced, what began as a casual interest soon blossomed into an unwavering passion as Wu excelled beyond his expectations. Performing well in his early competitions was integral in bolstering his confidence, propelling him to work harder and prompting him to commit to fencing.
“Fencing is a mix of your athleticism and your ability to think quickly and adapt,” Wu said. “It gives me an adrenaline rush and satisfaction that I don’t get from other activities.”
Wu trains four times a week, frequently attending tournaments on the weekends. During his training with Coach Muruhin, who leans toward a technical approach, Wu focuses primarily on strategies rather than athleticism. Through consistent practice, Wu has been able to significantly improve his form, tactics and focus during matches. In particular, he has honed his precision in executing actions, speed and timing when competing.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see the great effort Wu puts into growing his abilities,” Muruhin said. “He’s very adaptable to new ideas and learns quickly, implementing new actions in bouts right away.”
Beyond Wu’s intense concentration and work ethic, he is a dedicated teammate, passionate about helping others and supporting them through their journeys.
“Fencing is a super individual sport, but at competitions, he’s always around after his event to cheer us on,” junior and Silicon Valley Fencing member Eunice Zhang said. “In practice, he’s always focused on improving himself and is enthusiastic to help others.”
Currently, Wu holds an “A” rating in fencing, the highest letter classification, one earned through countless demanding tournaments. As a seasoned competitor, Wu always makes sure to keep a relaxed mindset to ensure he performs his best. Wu’s ability to maintain composure under high pressure is one of his key strengths, and he strives to give his full effort from start to finish.
“I don’t take it too seriously, but I still try my best and aim to have some fun,” Wu said. “After all, the whole reason I’m there is to fence new people and test my skills.”
Throughout Wu’s fencing journey, he has been injured multiple times, resulting in missed opportunities to earn points, negatively impacting both Wu’s rating and performance. In spite of such setbacks, Wu constantly seeks ways to improve for upcoming contests. Additionally, over the years, Wu has learned to manage his emotions during matches, remaining unfazed by losses or challenging circumstances.
“Alber has greatly improved his ability to deal with difficult situations, like a tough loss or a referee’s bad call,” Muruhin said. “He’s now more resilient in stressful situations and is able to stay focused.”
Looking ahead, Wu consistently trains hard, hoping to accumulate points to qualify for the USA travel team next year, where he’ll have the opportunity to compete internationally. In addition, he hopes to train at Stanford University and is thinking about pursuing fencing in college.
“Fencing has taught me to never give up, and even if I’m losing, I keep fighting because there might be a chance,” Wu said. “Fencing also allows me to be more active, which helps train my brain to think fast and stay alert.”
