A Black Olympic Fencer On A Mission To Redefine Greatness

Our society praises winners but shares nothing about the hardship we overcome to win.
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Photo by Ojoz, art direction by Félicity Ben Price

I’m a fencer from the Bronx . People always look at me like it’s impossible, or like I’m some anomaly. I guess I am, but that shouldn’t be the case.

A year ago, my mentor and I coined a hashtag, #RedefineGreatness. We found it simple yet powerful. We, like so many others, understand that there is a vacuum of African American role models outside of entertainment and a few core sports. Our goal is to shine a light on members of the African diaspora community who pursue non-traditional career paths, while also staying involved in their communities.

I lucked in to fencing. I read about it when I was 5 years old in a children’s dictionary. My mother looked through the yellow pages and found a local foundation. The rest is history. I’m now a 2x Olympian, World, and Olympic Medalist. At 11 years old, I dreamed about the things I have now. I wanted to travel, to be confident, to be well spoken and to be respected. It took years and maturity for me to understand that my life, my abilities, and my accomplishments are truly a blessing. Our society praises winners but shares nothing about the hardship we overcome to win.

The Olympic Games is always a humbling experience for me. Not only am I surrounded by so many of the greatest athletes in the world, but I’m also surrounded by stories of triumph and hardship. Take Yusra Mardini, who swam for the refugee team. While fleeing conflict in Syria, Yusra’s boat began to sink. She jumped out and swam for 3.5 hours to save all those aboard. If her story doesn’t put things in perspective, I don’t know what does. The Games also offer a unique opportunity to connect with cultures that you might otherwise never interact with. Think about the significance of North Korean and Southern Korean gymnasts taking selfies together. Beyond those occurrences, the Olympic Games is truly a meritocracy. We’re all athletes pushing to compete on our highest levels.

“We are all our brother’s keepers. Each one of us has the ability to create, build, and inspire.”

Over the past year I’ve begun to understand why the Bronx, my upbringing, and my community are integral parts of my story. So many of us grow up and live with no hope. I’ve been humbled at my reception since I’ve returned home. It’s not about the press. It’s about seeing how an Olympic medal can really touch someone regardless of geography. It’s something no value can be placed on. Not to be dramatic, but it literally feels like a baby. I love sharing my medal with children. The smiles they give, the comments on its heaviness and the hope it gives them all give me energy to keep striving. It’s not only kids though. The elderly, who are often jaded by what they’ve seen and experienced, have embraced me with so much love and pride. It’s truly been humbling.

Photo by Ojoz, art direction by Félicity Ben Price

This medal has given me perspective. It’s solidified my view that life is truly a purpose driven endeavor. So often we’re taught to chase accomplishments and we forget the value of giving back and being accessible. We’re told that success can be measured in things, not actions. I want my medal to be a sign of hope, a beacon of inspiration, a glimpse of light in darkness. It’s time we all seek to Redefine Greatness to show youth and ourselves that there are so many avenues to success and that people of color are often atop these fields. Remember, belief is always the first step.

Through my travels I’ve realized that the African Diaspora community is truly connected. Never did I see this more than at the 2015 World Championships in Moscow, Russia. I was the first American in my discipline to win an Individual World Championship medal. Although my American teammates were happy, the African athletes were beside themselves. They had iPads and video cameras out. One of our Senegalese referees is also a huge advocate of mine, writing me inspirational messages when I’m down after a bad result. It’s this level of support that we need to provide to our community as a whole. Perspective. We are all our brother’s keepers. Each one of us has the ability to create, build, and inspire. It’s up to us to take that ability and do something with it.

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