2025 Junior & Cadet Worlds Recap, Day 9 (Junior Epee Team): Women Earn Bronze, Extend Podium Streak to Four Years

WUXI, China — There’s something fitting about ending a nine-day tournament with a match that comes down to grit, teamwork, and just a little bit of nerve.

That’s exactly what Team USA’s Junior Women’s Epee squad delivered on Tuesday — the final day of the 2025 Junior & Cadet Fencing World Championships in Wuxi, China. With a hard-earned 45–42 victory over Switzerland in the bronze medal match, the Americans closed out the competition with a trip to the podium and extended their impressive streak in this event to four straight years: bronze in 2022, silver in 2023, gold in 2024, and bronze in 2025.

“It means a lot,” says Sophia Jakel (Columbia University, DC Fencers Club). “It’s been incredible to qualify, and it means so much to be part of such a long legacy of outstanding performance and hard work and determination. I'm so proud of our squad and each and every one of us for our performance today.”

Team USA began the day with a win over India before defeating Spain and Korea to reach the semifinals. That Korea match, a narrow 45–43 win, tested the team’s composure and resolve.

“The scores were super close,” says Sumin Lee (Columbia University, Battle Born Fencing Club). “We were all nervous, but I’m really glad that we all could pull through.”

After a hard-fought semifinal loss to Ukraine, 43–45, the team had just 30 minutes to regroup and refocus for the bronze medal bout against Switzerland. There, they pulled off one more clutch performance to claim the final U.S. medal of the championships.

For Leehi Machulsky (Princeton University, Academy of Fencing Masters) and Yasmine Khamis (Harvard University, Alliance Fencing Academy, Olympia Fencing Center), the result marked a return to the podium after winning gold together in 2024.

“Obviously we knew how good it felt to win, and we felt the pressure as reigning world champions,” Machulsky says. “So I know that we both really just wanted to win or medal one more time, because the feeling is so great. We definitely came into today hungry.”

The athletes also credited coach Natalie Dostert for helping them rise to the moment.

“Coach Natalie works really closely with the girls leading up — she gives us support, and then, on the day of, she really caters to what each individual fencer can do,” Khamis says. “She can navigate what you're capable of on that given day, which I think is really important. Sometimes coaches want to fit a square peg in a round hole. So I think that adaptive method is really helpful in pushing us.”

In the Junior Men’s Epee team event, Team USA fell to Ukraine in the Round of 16 before bouncing back with three straight wins over Germany, Great Britain, and Egypt to finish a strong ninth.

Junior Women’s Epee Team

• Team USA: Bronze

Junior Men’s Epee Team

• Team USA: 9th Place