After eight years of fencing (including one and a half years of Parafencing), freshman Jillian Kosanovich flew all the way to Charlotte, North Carolina to compete in the USA Parafencing Women’s Epee National Championship. For three days (April 21 to 23) Jillian competed against challengers aged 14 to 30, and won gold.
Even after completely losing her big left toe in an accident and amputation in April of 2020, she was unbridled in finishing first in this year’s national competition. “[It’s] really just another thing to get under my belt. The title is a nice little bonus, too,” she commentsed, speaking to how this will affect her fencing career. Kosanovich traveled with her own wheelchair from DIA to Charlotte-Douglas Airport and notes that distance and arm movement are the biggest differences between fencing in a wheelchair and able-bodied fencing.
“I got started in kindergarten and never looked back,” she remarks, explaining her fencing career. Jillian started and currently trains in foil but competes in epee as well.
A highlight of the competition was Jillian’s match against Shelby Jenson (12-15), a Paralympian which she won against to make it to finals.
