sports
— FRANCESCA RUSSO
24
FALL 2017 WAYNE MAGAZINE
Russo was The Record female athlete
of the week in March 2010.
“Fencing, like many other
sports, gives me the opportunity
to completely be myself on the
strip,” Russo says. “People say
that fencing is a mental sport, and
they’re absolutely right. There’s
probably no better feeling than
coming up with a move in your
head and then executing it well.”
This is not to say that perform-
ing well is easy.
“Heading into competitions,
I am usually nervous, possibly
over-analyzing the day or thinking
about the what-ifs,” she says. “I
have gotten a lot better at settling
the nerves down by listening to
music and doing some relaxing
stretches. While fencing, I’m
focusing on each individual touch.
I try my best to stay in the
moment and not to get distracted
by the noises and people around
me. I think about what my oppo-
nent is planning on doing next,
and work on my actions from
there.”
As with most serious pursuits,
there are life lessons to be learned.
“The best skill I have learned
through fencing is to be confident
in my own actions,” Russo says.
“With fencing, you are put in a
position in which you have to
make split-second decisions. I
have learned that in life, instead of
deliberating over decisions, it is
best if you stick with your intu-
ition, because more times than
not, you are right. And if not,
there’s always next time.” ■
“PEOPLE SAY THAT FENCING
IS A MENTAL SPORT, AND
THEY’RE ABSOLUTELY
RIGHT. THERE’S PROBABLY
NO BETTER FEELING THAN
COMING UP WITH A MOVE
IN YOU