Darby Ko, 16, balances violin and fencing as she prepares for Junior and Division II women’s foil competitions in Atlantic City.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Challenges on the fencing strip are what attracted Darby Ko to the sport. The 16-year-old from Princeton, N.J., is set to compete at this weekend’s USA Fencing October North American Cup in Atlantic City in the Junior and Division II women’s foil categories.
Ko began her athletic journey as a gymnast at age 6 but transitioned to fencing by the time she turned 12, driven by a desire for something new.
“I was debating on pursuing gymnastics more competitively,” Ko says. “But I also wanted to explore something new and interesting like fencing. I transitioned into fencing when I was about 12, and since then, I’ve just been having fun with it.”
From the start, Ko gravitated toward foil, which remains her weapon of choice.
“I found that foil really taught you the fundamentals,” she says. “It suited my personality, and I enjoyed it, so I stuck with it.”
Ko’s competitive experience includes qualifying for the Summer Nationals this past July, where she competed in both Division II and Division III women’s foil. The North American Cup offers her another opportunity to compete against high-level fencers and learn from them.
“I think one of the big things I learn from watching high-level fencing is not just their technique, but how they handle the mental game during large competitions,” Ko says. “Your mentality and what you think during a bout is so important.”
Ko admires how elite fencers manage competitive stress, an aspect of the sport she continually works on.
“In fencing, there is always someone better than you,” Ko says. “But when you keep pushing yourself, you can progress.”
When she’s not on the strip, Ko trains at the Bucks County Academy of Fencing in Lambertville, N.J., and is also an accomplished violinist. She has been part of the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra for two years and has played the violin since second grade. Ko sees parallels between her musical and athletic endeavors.
“When you learn the violin, there’s a technique that requires monotonous practice,” she says. “That understanding of patience and long-term dedication has really helped me in fencing and academics.”
