Fencing prodigy Michael Costin, 16, achieved the biggest victory of his career to date, striking double gold at the United States Fencing Association North American Cup in Austin, Texas.
After a series of tense and thrilling bouts, the Culver City High School student walked away with a pair of gold medals in the cadet and junior events.
It has been a stellar season for Costin, who placed third at the Cadet Saber World Cup in
Poland in September. Last month, he took second at the USFA North American Cup in Richmond, Va.
“I have been fencing for seven years,” said Costin, the nation’s top-ranked fencer in his age group. With a few more tournaments ahead of him, he says he is determined to be a part of the U.S. official team at the Moscow World Championships in April. The members of the team will be announced at the U.S. Junior Olympic Championships in February.
Meanwhile, Costin will train for two important tournaments in the states, one in Kansas City, Mo., one in Portland, Ore., before jetting off to London, England to compete in a Cadet World Cup.
Fencing, it seems, is in Costin’s blood. His father, Romanian fencing champion Daniel Costin, is a former Olympic coach. The elder Costin runs Avant-Garde Fencers Club in West Los Angeles, where Michael trains. The club offers saber classes for kids as young as age 7.
Costin’s ultimate goal, he says, is an Olympic gold medal, but he says he still has a long way to go.