From Li'l Zorro to Olympic Hopeful

Fun. Passion. Discipline. Commitment.

I started fencing when I was 7 years old and in 1st grade. I’m now on my way towards making the U.S. Olympic Team for the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo, Japan. It hasn’t always been my childhood goal to compete in the Olympics; my goals have always been to do well in school and to fence well in whatever tournament I was in. Over the years, I’ve been very fortunate: I’m now a student in college and considered one of the top female epeeists in the U.S.

The motivations behind these achievements have been my family, coaches, teammates, roommates and friends. They have all given me so much love that I can never repay them. If I do make it to the Olympics, it will be as much in honor of them as it will be because of all of my hard work.

Starting in June 2019, I’m going to postpone my senior year in college so that I can fully focus on my training. Training requires Commitment, Discipline and Sacrifice. Unfortunately, there’s no elevator to success; you have to take the stairs, one step at a time! My training will also involve:

• 1-on-1 sessions with 3 different coaches

• Cross-training in weight-lifting, boxing, core strengthening

• Physical therapy to address injuries and accelerate muscle recovery

• Travelling to and attending international training camps in different countries

• Daily footwork drills and hand-eye coordination drills

• Constant replacing of broken equipment (weapons, gloves, masks, uniforms)

• Working with a nutritionist to optimize my diet for lean muscle creation and endurance

• Travelling with my primary coach to tournaments in various countries and throughout the U.S.

As you can guess from the above, I don’t just want to “go” to the Olympics; I want to MEDAL in the Olympics! Doing so will represent the first time in Olympic history that a U.S. athlete to win an individual medal in Women’s Epee. I have a good track record of performing well on big stages: I was a bronze medalist at the 2016 Cadet World Championships, the silver medalist at the 2017 Junior World Championships and I won both the Ivy League and NCAA Championships in 2018.

I calculate that the cost of this effort, from June 2019 to August 2020, will be approximately $150,000. That’s my fundraising goal: to raise $150,000 by December 31st, 2019. I’m grateful for whatever assistance you can give me as I attempt to reach this next level of accomplishment within my sport. You're welcomed to track my progress towards making The Team as I post updates below.

THANK YOU!

Kasia

From Li’l Zorro to Olympic Hopeful

Latest Update

Spoke at a local elementary school about good sportsmanship and was challenged to a duel by one of the 6th graders! Thanks to all of you who have donated towards my Dream.

Posted by Team

November 6 at 4:03pm

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Just finished competing last week in Estonia where I fenced well enough to earn points towards making the O Team but still not as well as I had hoped. Now training in Saint Maur, France, with a very successful coach, Daniel Levavasseur. His student, Nathalie Moellhausen, just won the World Championship in Budapest in July. Will be back in the U.S. just before Thanksgiving.

Posted by Team

November 6 at 3:57pm

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7/1/19: Kasia and her U.S. teammates just won Gold in the Pan American Championships in Toronto, Canada! This victory enables the U.S. to remain the #1 ranked team in the world going into the World Championships in two weeks in Budapest, Hungary.

Posted by Team

July 2 at 12:51am

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2/10/19 - Kasia wins the Individual Ivy League Championship in Women's Epee, going 17-1 over the two day tournament. 4/14/19 - Kasia finishes in 5th place at the U.S. National Championships. This secures her spot on the U.S. Senior World Team that will compete in the World Championships in Budapest, in July. This is also Kasia's first time making it onto the Sr. World Team and it's a major stepping stone towards making it onto the Olympic Team. Next Up: May 5 - Colombia May 20 - Dubai June 28 - Toronto July 5 - Naples (World University Games)

Posted by Team

April 19 at 4:34pm

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19 Supporters

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• Nathan Gary4 years ago
• Sasha Barnow and her family4 years ago Go Kasia!
• Royal Erickson4 years ago I met you father and he told me about your incredible opportunity. Best wishes!
• Michelle Jensen4 years ago Go get 'em!
• William McDonald4 years ago Best of luck to you!!
• jane chantal rickards4 years ago From one of your dad's passengers! Good luck Kasia. Chantal at BAFTA
• Anonymous4 years ago
• Mr. Janken4 years ago I want you to make the Olympic Team. I want you to medal, too, but making the team in itself would be really cool.
• Anonymous4 years ago
• Orli Himmelweit4 years ago You go, Kasia!
• Show 9 more supporters