Michael Costin, a junior at Culver City High School, competed in the Saber Cadet World Cup for fencing in Poland this weekend, and came home with a bronze medal.
The World Cups are international competitions that award points to the top 32 fencers, allowing each nation to select their highest-ranked three fencers to represent the country at the World Championships. More than 120 fencers from 11 countries participated in the event in Konin, Poland.
At this tournament, Costin became a finalist at the international level for the first time. He was undefeated in the tables, advancing all the way to the quarter finals when he lost the bout by only three touches to Russian opponent, Dmitriy Danilenko.
Although Costin has been a United States national finalist nine times since the age of 10, this weekend’s bronze is by far his most accomplished result.
Costin began fencing about seven years ago and is currently training at Avant-Garde Fencers Club in West Los Angeles. His goal is to qualify for the 2012 Cadet and Junior World Championships hosted in Moscow, Russia.
For more information about the Avant-Garde Fencers Club, call (310) 473-8890 or go to
avantgarde.la.