Had Jiao Enqi not pursued fencing, she would have been enjoying her summer vacation following the Gaokao, China’s national college entrance exam.
Instead, the 18-year-old participated as a reserve for China in the women’s foil team event at the Paris Olympics, where her team finished seventh on Thursday.
Jiao came up in the classification match against hosts France, winning two bouts 6-5 and 6-4 in style. “I did think that I might not get to play, but I knew it was crucial to be ready. If I had to step in, I wanted to give it my all,” she said.
Hailing from the coastal city of Qingdao in east China’s Shandong Province, Jiao showed interest in fencing during her early school years. Captivated by the sport’s competitive nature, she began her journey on the fencing piste.
As she progressed, Jiao encountered many obstacles. “In the beginning, I felt I couldn’t compete with others and often cried after my losses,” she admitted.
However, these experiences ultimately fueled her motivation. “When I lost, I learned to appreciate the victories even more. I wanted to win and prove to myself that I could do it,” she explained.
Jiao’s significant breakthrough occurred at the Youth National Championships in 2023, where she defied the odds to clinch her first individual title. “That moment made me realize the power of determination and hard work. I was really proud of myself for the victory,” she said.
With each victory came increased expectations. When she made her World Cup debut in January in Paris as a freshman competing at a senior level, Jiao felt a mix of emotions.
“The atmosphere changes when you’re up against those of your age. There’s pressure to perform since everyone knows each other,” she noted.
However, competing against seasoned opponents brought her a sense of liberation. “I thought, since I didn’t know them, I could just go for it; any win would be a bonus,” she said.
The teenager then went on to upset 10th seed Lauren Scruggs of the United States at the Hong Kong World Cup in May.
“On the field, I still had this mindset that I couldn’t beat them, so I just focused on doing my best, and somehow ended up winning,” Jiao recalled.
“I believe that stronger opponents might feel some pressure because they haven’t faced me before and may not know how to handle it. For me, I have a few strategies. I just need to do what I know.”
As the Olympics approached, the pressure intensified, especially after she earned the women’s foil team reserve spot through a trial event in early June, edging Asian champion Shi Yue.
“I was really happy when I secured the reserve spot, but as the Olympics approached, my nerves began to increase,” Jiao told Xinhua during a training session with the national team two weeks later.
“The atmosphere has changed since the trials ended. It feels more intense every day because every detail counts. Each day is becoming more challenging, and I’m putting pressure on myself because, even as a reserve, I want to help the team,” she said.
Before the Olympics, Jiao had thought her “exam” in Paris would be easier than the Gaokao due to the relative lack of pressure. However, when asked the same question again, she replied, “Not easy at all! The venue was so grand, and there were many spectators, especially in the match against France. It felt like all eyes were on us, which made me quite nervous.”
In the placement match against Egypt on Thursday, Jiao was one of the standout performers, delivering results of 5-1, 5-3, 8-1 in her three bouts en route to a 45-18 victory.
“I see this competition as a validation of my training efforts,” Jiao said modestly after her matches. “However, being part of such a significant event also forces me to confront my problems more directly — an opportunity like this only comes once.”
Despite being praised by head coach Lei Sheng, Jiao was honest about her performance. “[My opponents] are not very familiar with me, competing for the first time. Some things might become easier for them to handle after a few more matches,” she said.
Looking ahead, Jiao will compete in the National Fencing Championships at the end of August.
“My goal is to not get eliminated too early, and to stay in the competition for as long as possible. I will leave the Olympic halo behind, and approach each match like before, with a calm mindset,” she said.
“In the future, I believe I need to concentrate more on the technical aspects and details, because winning matches isn’t just about being bold and aggressive. It’s ultimately about technique,” she said.
