ATLANTA, GA — Antonio Chen has been one with his sword since he was 8-years-old.
And now, he will take his passion for fencing to the big arena as he is slated to represent Taiwan in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The rising junior at Savannah College of Art and Design Atlanta is the first male fencer from Taiwan to qualify in the Olympics’ foil category for fencing in 36 years, college officials said.
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Chen is a member of SCAD’s fencing team and studies graphic design at the college. To compete in the Olympics, he had to first claim victory at the Asian Zonal Qualifier – which he did.
“I’m really excited to be participating in the Olympics this year,” Chen told Patch. “Whenever I’m passionate about something, I want to give it my full effort and become the best at it, so the Olympics has been my goal since I was very little. It is also an honor being able to compete against some of the best athletes in the world.”
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It was the flashy equipment and movements that drew Chen to fencing.
He was introduced to the sport at a summer camp in Taiwan, and although he tried his hand at other sports, Chen said it was fencing that mostly intrigued him. And ever since, fencing has significantly been a part of his life.
As for what solidifies his connection to fencing, he said he loves the exchange between him and his opponent.
“I think it’s the thrill of exchanging and clashing blades with your opponent,” Chen said. “I enjoy having a lot of back and forth, trying to predict their next move.”
With an Asian Fencing Championships bronze medal, and a silver medal at the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympics as a high-school student, Chen deems competing in the Paris Olympic Games as his most prominent achievement.
He noted the win in the Youth Olympics instilled confidence within himself and pushed him to continue forward on his fencing journey.
But even with victories come struggles. Chen’s obstacle lies in preparation for unexpected challenges, specifically when traveling.
“You really have to think through time zone differences and deadlines, which is why I try to always submit my work in early and plan ahead with my professors who are are incredibly supportive,” he said.
In his study of graphic design at SCAD, Chen said being able to complete most of his work on a computer is beneficial for his travels. As a student-athlete, he has learned time management and better communication skills.
Chen views fencing as “a sport with a variety of ‘play styles.'” He noted fencers worldwide develop their unique swordsmanship.
“In order to keep up with the top fencers in the world, I like to watch all kinds of fencers and take in as much as possible,” he said.
Chen advised aspiring fencers to enjoy being on the piste, where the action happens.
“Passion is the best motivation,” he said.
Though the Paris Olympics will be his first time at the games, Chen said he will strive to participate in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
In maintaining his run of firsts, college officials said Chen is the first SCAD student-athlete scheduled to compete at the Olympic games while participating in that same sport at the university.
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“When we first started the fencing program at SCAD, we did so with the vision of having SCAD athletes competing at the highest level of their sport,” SCAD Atlanta Director of Athletics Glen Hill said in a news release. “There’s no bigger world stage than the Olympics, and to have Antonio Chen competing there in 2024 is incredibly exciting and speaks volumes about the hard work and dedication of SCAD’s athletes and programs.”
Chen is appreciative of his teammates at SCAD as they have helped him sharpen his skills during training, which he plans to continue throughout the summer, he said in the release.
The Olympics will run from July 26-Aug. 11, with the fencing competition starting on July 27.
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