Everyone has different reasons for joining club fencing. Some got into it by chance, some through a friend. Kristen Shafer, however, had very different reasons for fencing.

Because two years ago, Shafer watched the fencing trials in the London Olympics and thought: “I want to try that.”

Because deep down she wanted to be like the Olympians she had watched that day — even though she had never even held a sword.

Because she doesn’t break promises.