Roberts Creek’s Fynn Mansbridge-Fafard was in Bourges, France this past weekend competing at the World Championships in U17 Épée.
Fynn just celebrated his 16th birthday on March 8, one week after claiming the bronze medal at the Pan Am Championships in Cancun, Mexico. Fynn also earned a silver medal with Team Canada in the mixed weapon team event.
Fynn’s first world championships were a great experience – he won some big matches including a 5-1 win over the bronze medalist of the European championships, and mounted a huge comeback against a very good Korean competitor, but fell to the seven seed from Norway 15-12 in the 64th round and finished 53 out of 130.
He fought well and gained some very valuable experience that he can take into next season. He will be competing in this age group again next year.
Fynn started the season with one goal in mind, and that was making it to the World Championships in his first year of U17. He accomplished this goal, but the year did not start well for Fynn. He tore his hamstring in his first event of the season – the Canada Cup last May – although he still managed to win a silver medal.
Things began to look like they were slipping away from Fynn after he suffered a concussion in St. Louis. He was withdrawn from both his events by the event medic and lost out on valuable points, slipping down several places in the season standings as a result.
After recovering from his concussion, Fynn got straight back to work trying to make up for lost ground as his season progressed, but he needed no less than a top eight finish at the final event in Cancun. Fynn accomplished that and punched his ticket to the World Championships by finishing third at the Pan Am Championships, which are the zone qualifiers for North, Central and South Americas.
The road to qualifying for the World Championships was not an easy one, and was filled with countless hours of training, travel and adversity. So far, Fynn has competed in three Canada Cups, two North American Cups, two European Cups and finally the Pan Am Championships in Mexico.
Fynn got his start in fencing three short years ago with Sunshine Coast Fencing Club’s coach, Jonathan Hutchinson. Fynn now trains in Richmond at Dynamo Fencing Club with the Canadian Senior Men’s Coach, Victor Gantsevich as well as taking lessons from the former world No. 1 and Olympic Épée team champion, Eric Boisse of France.
