Horia’s Story: Fencing for Gold
It was almost like fate.
In 2024, Horia Puscas’ started fencing again after a 15-year hiatus—almost the exact same time he joined the Flamborough Family YMCA.
“We originally came for our daughter to learn how to swim,” says Horia. His wife, Celina, suggested he take advantage of the early morning fitness classes, and he quickly started attending Cari’s strength and conditioning class
“We taught him who Prince is.” Cari joked. “He didn’t know the song 'Let’s Go Crazy.'"
That first class turned into countless others, with Horia eventually using the multipurpose room twice a week with his coach, Carolyn, to practice fencing.
They mark the playing area or “piste”, in tape, and sometimes Selina even comes to train with him. “It’s saved me thousands in club costs.” Horia says
We get lots of people walking by who are curious about it”, said Marissa Verdone, General Manager at the Flamborough Family YMCA. “It’s great to expose people to something that they might have never seen before.”
That kind of exposure is a little like how Horia himself got into the sport. Horia was trying different activities at the time, and an unlikely acquaintance—the mother of one of his brother’s friends—talked to Horia’s mother about fencing.
“My mom asked me, ‘Would you like to try fencing?’ I said, ‘Sure, why not?’ And here I am many years later.”
Horia competes in the 40-49 age category for sabre fencing, which is one of the three types of weapons along with foil and epée. Sabre fencing is faster and uses motions like cutting (a downward motion) and thrusting to score points, whereas foil and epée use mostly thrusts and flicks. Horia explains there are other motions, but they are used less often.
When he re-entered the sport in 2024, everything fell into place. Within a few months of picking up the blade again, he won the National Fencing Championships, and then a year later, he competed in Bahrain at the FIE (International Fencing Federation) Veteran Fencing World Championship. “The World Championship is like the Olympics for my age category,” he says. This year, the Veteran World Championship is being held in Tbilisi, Georgia from October 9 to 17.
Horia competes on October 15 in the individual competition and October 17 in the team competition.
“My ultimate goal is to get a medal.”
When asked about how the YMCA helps his training, he says it keeps him accountable.
“It was very difficult for me to wake up in the morning and do my own strength workout. So, this was perfect. When I don't do it, I miss it. I feel it.”
He also says it gives him a competitive edge to be able to train his cardio and strength alongside his fencing technique.
“Whether I win or lose, I’m smiling, because I do all this extra training [that isn’t just fencing].”
“Due to the strength training I do at the Y, I have an advantage in bouts and it allows me to focus on proper technique rather than getting winded and [potentially] losing points."
Horia says he wants to show his daughter what determination and resilience look like—to show her what it means to keep trying, even when it’s hard.
“I want to be a role model for her.”
As his daughter goes from being nervous and afraid, to smiling and happy in her swimming classes at the Y, Horia reflects the real power of the YMCA comes the connections you make.
“My favorite part about the YMCA must be the people. They're just exceptional.”
From strength training and time in the multipurpose room, to helping his daughter build confidence in the water, Horia says he’s grateful for how the YMCA has become part of their community.
“The staff are so flexible and helpful. They’ve helped me maintain my trajectory and improve myself in the way I wanted. That's [been the] best for me."
