Not everybody gets gold for their birthday,
But that’s what Roberts Creek fencer Fynn Fafard earned at the Junior Pan Am Games in El Salvador days before turning 20 years old.
As captain he led Team Canada to a resounding defeat of the United States team.
His team started the day with a 45-19 win against Colombia, then moved past Brazil with a 45-35 win before finally out-duelling the United States 45-35 – a rare, solid win over the world’s top ranked team.
Taking first place at the Games is also rare – the last time Canada won a medal was in 2016 during Fafard’s rookie year, when they took silver after losing to the U.S. They haven’t won the event since 2010.
This victory is all the sweeter since 2020 marks the final year Fafard can compete on the world stage as a junior. He is the top ranked junior in Canada and in April will be heading to the World Championships in Sault Lake City, Utah.
The epée fencer trains out of Dynamo Fencing Club in Richmond, where he also coaches, and is attending Langara College.
– Submitted
