When Victor’s fantastic achievement was announced to YK Pao High School students and staff on Monday the roar of appreciation, support and pride for his victory was quite something to experience. Victor’s balanced approach to the extraordinary effort and dedication it takes to compete at such a high level and his continued drive to also achieve at school speak volumes about his depth of character and his humility. As a community, we all are exceptionally proud of this wonderful news.
——James Lyng, High School Principal
On 14 April, in the individual final of the Cadet Men's Foil of the Junior & Cadet Fencing World Championships held in the Saudi capital Riyadh, Victor Lyu (Y11), competing on behalf of the Chinese team, triumphed with a 15-9 victory over his American opponent in the finals, winning the championship. "The moment I stood on the podium and heard the national anthem played because of me, I was really in tears,” Victor said. “This has been my dream since I was a child - to proudly represent my country on the global stage.”
A total of 133 competitors took part in this year's Cadet Men's Foil of the Junior & Cadet Fencing World Championships. Victor Lyu emerged victorious in his group, securing passage to the knockout rounds. He then defeated opponents from Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, China, and the United States successively, advancing to the quarter-finals. Subsequently, he overcame Hong Kong's Luk Chun Lok with a 15-12 score, progressing to the finals. The gold medal match featured Victor facing off against Deseranno Don Jeidus from the USA. Throughout the competition, Victor displayed calm and steady play, ultimately triumphing with a commanding 15-9 score to claim his place on the championship podium. This victory marked the first gold medal for the Chinese team in this tournament as well as Victor's inaugural gold medal in an international competition.
Victor has been practising fencing since Year 1 and harbours a profound passion for the sport. To him, fencing transcends a mere display of physical prowess and technique; it embodies a realm of wisdom and strategy. He believes that success in fencing hinges on the adept application of diverse strategies during combat, asserting that “In a competition, you have never truly lost completely before the end. Even when you're behind, there's always a chance to turn things around."
The whole-person education at Pao School, coupled with over a decade of fencing practice, has shaped Victor’s resilient character and provided him with the confidence to showcase himself on the international stage, laying a strong foundation in communication skills. In training, as in competitions, there are wins and losses, and his athletic performance has had its peaks and valleys, requiring constant adjustment of mindset. Victor recalls his early days at the Songjiang campus, where he started living as a boarder. Unable to train from Monday to Thursday, he had to find time on his own to work on his physical training, and he nearly gave up. However, the pursuit of his dream kept him going. "These experiences have made me tougher, so I don't think of abandoning my studies and life just because of a setback," he concluded.
"During post-game interviews, the organizing committee assigned me a translator, only to later realize that I didn't need one at all. The other players next to me were curious and asked me if I did my training overseas." Victor said with a laugh.
Fencing fitness EP course at Middle School
Weekly training at High School
Victor’s love for fencing has driven him to persist in training and competitions day after day, year after year. Last year, he was selected by the Chinese Fencing Association as the youngest member of the 2023-24 season National Junior (U20) Fencing Team for the men's foil event. The National Junior Team adopts a centralized training format, with most members being professional athletes. Non-professional athletes mostly come from Beijing, so Victor is the only member of the group who needs to commute between Beijing and Shanghai every weekend for training. Victor's mother commented: "The need to establish a seamless transition between competition training and school studies has greatly enhanced his time management and efficiency skills."
2019 Shanghai Middle School Fencing Competition
Pao School Fencing Club, 2020 Shanghai Middle School Fencing Championship
Pao School Fencing Club, 2021 Shanghai International School Fencing League
In response to his success, Victor expresses gratitude for the support he receives from Pao school. He believes that the Pao School’s approach to whole person education fosters the development of students' individuality by providing opportunities for each person to showcase their unique talents. Furthermore, he appreciates the understanding and assistance offered by the principal, his teachers, and classmates whenever it was needed.
Victor won third place in the Men's Foil High School Group, 13th China Secondary School Fencing Championships in 2023
Looking ahead to the future, Victor expressed his hopes of expanding his horizons in terms of professional choices beyond sports. Yet he plans to dedicate himself full-time to fencing for a period after graduating from university, aspiring to the opportunity of representing China in the Olympics in the future. "I hope that more young people in China will be able to find a balance between academic studies and sports training, persevering in both areas," he added.
Victor's mother with tears welling up
We believe that Victor's achievements today are largely attributed to Pao School's commitment to whole-person education. Beyond academic performance, the school places a strong emphasis on students' physical and mental well-being. What is even more commendable is the mutual respect and appreciation of each other’s talent among the students, making Pao School a place where Victor is busy and happy at the same time.
——Victor's mother
