FENCING is a sport that requires not only physical skills such as agility and strength, but it also requires strategic thinking as well as mental toughness. Just ask Durban North resident Emma Burton. The Our Lady of Fatima learner recently took part in the KZN Junior National Fencing Championships in Johannesburg winning gold in the U17 category for women’s Sabre.

Besides being crowned the Sabre Junior National Champion, she also received a bronze medal in the U20 Women’s Sabre category.

“I wasn’t expecting that at all, it was an amazing feeling winning considering it was my first national competition. There’s two more nationals coming up, one in Bloemfontein and another in Cape Town. I’m hoping to do well in those competitions as well because I’d like to represent South African and compete internationally,” she said.

Burton got into the sport after being introduced to it by a friend.

“My friend Anna asked me to join. I decided I’d like to try it out. I started doing épée, another form of this sport. When I went to my first competition, that’s where I saw sabre duelling. I just really wanted to try that out. It’s a lot faster and after watching my coach duel, I decided I had to try and I’ve not ever looked back,” she said.