Weapons clashed as the top fencers from around the Americas faced off on Oct. 31 at the 2023 Pan American Games. Raising his sword and taking down opponents was the youngest in the group, Kruz Schembri of Team Virgin Islands (ISV). The 17-year-old quickly won two matches, allowing him to advance to the top 16 in the Men’s Foil Individual fencing competition.
“I’m doing really well. I won two out of three matches. It was a hard group,” said Team ISV Schembri, who competed first against Team USA’s Miles Chamley-Watson, a fencer who’s a 12-time team Pan-American Champion, two-time Olympian and team Olympic Bronze medalist (2016). Schembri grew up watching Chamley-Watson compete.
“It feels good to know that I qualified in the harder group so I’m moving into the next round with high hopes,” said Schembri after the first round finished and as he awaited to compete in the top 16.
Schembri qualified for the 2023 Pan American Games at age 15. Not only is he the youngest fencer at the games, he’s one of the youngest competing among 8,000 athletes in Santiago, Chile.
“It really means a lot that I qualified two years ago for this event. I did it when I was 15. To represent the V.I. while I’m here also means a lot,” said Schembri, who beat opponents from Chile and Mexico to advance at the games. He says he’s using his youth to his advantage.
“I’m just using that as motivation every point, every bout, going on through this tournament and onwards so it really means a lot to be here,” said Schembri.
Schembri finished and ranked 9th overall in the Men’s Foil Individual Table of 16 competition at the 2023 Pan American Games. While he’s the youngest fencer in Santiago, Chile, his competitors knew him. That’s because Schembri has been gaining momentum fast in fencing competitions all over the world. Prior to the 2023 Pan American Games, he won a silver medal at the 2023 Cadet and Junior World Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, and a gold medal in 2022 at the Junior Men’s Epee at an FIE World Cup event in Costa Rica.
“Hopefully people and kids in the Virgin Islands can see this and pick up fencing. I know they can be good so hopefully they can look at what I’ve done and maybe say, “Oh I can do that too, and use me as motivation,” said Schembri. He says he’s thankful for support from his parents, family and friends as he moves forward in fencing. And when training gets tough, he reminds himself of this advice.
“Keep having a positive mindset. It’s never impossible, so just keep going,” said Schembri.
Wise words. From the youngest fencer on the mat.