WOOLWICH TWP. — At the 2014 Veteran World Fencing Championships held in Debrecen, Hungary, Jane Eyre, a member of Team USA, became the most decorated veteran fencer in Team USA’s history when she claimed her fourth individual World Championship title.
Eyre came into the tournament as the reigning World Champion in the event and had won in 2005 and 2010. Eyre also won a gold in the team event by leading the USA Women’s Sabre Team in victory over Japan, Great Britain, Germany and France.
Her coach, Fencing Master Wang Yung, took silver in his individual event and joined Team USA in defeating Italy, France, Japan and faced Russia in the finals to win gold for the U.S. in Men’s Sabre Team.
Ellen O’Leary from Atlanta, who regularly comes to Swedesboro to train with Maitre (Fencing Master) Yung, and represents Infinity also took gold in her event by defeating a six time World Champion from France. The following day, O’Leary joined Eyre and led the American women to win gold for the U.S. in the Women’s Sabre Team event. The team was coached by Yung.
O’Leary took up fencing when she was 64, started training with Maitre Yung six years ago and has won two gold and four silver at consecutive World Championships.
Eyre and Yung, who teach at Infinity Fencing Alliance, and O’Leary, who is Yung’s student, won more medals than most of the 43 countries represented at the Worlds with two individual Gold, three team gold and one individual Silver. Their medals counted for over one third of the total US medals won.
