Most of the best athletes begin their careers during childhood years, allowing more time to master and finesse their sport. Natalie Vie didn’t, though. After fencing for only seven years, she has already ranked fifth in the United States, just within 200 points of fourth place and being a part of the U.S. National Team.
As a senior, Vie began fencing at her Phoenix high school. Former Olympian Skip Shurtz became her coach as he gave her free lessons to help her reach the professional level. With only two years of experience under her belt, she was a nationally ranked junior and senior, as well as ranked internationally. During her collegiate career at Arizona State University, Vie joined the school’s fencing team as a sophomore and went on to win numerous medals and championships, along with receiving a full fencing and tuition scholarship. Upon the end of her undergraduate years, she was offered an assistant coach position for the ASU fencing team. She graduated from ASU Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Sculpture and a BS in Political Science.
Now, in her mid-20s, Vie has earned even more outstanding championships, including four U.S. National Championship medals, as well as other international recognitions. She has taught fencing at the Boys and Girls Club of Scottsdale, as well as at the Phoenix Fencing Club, the very place she began about seven years ago. She now uses her talents competing worldwide on behalf of the U.S. while being coached by Adrian Colcisca, former Romanian Olympic Fencing Team coach, and Rolly Arroyo, who is known to be the “best strip coach in America.”
Just recently, Vie competed in Doha Qatar. There, she had four wins—two of which were against former World Cup finalists—and two losses.
“As for Doha, it was incredible and the people really are so hospitable!” shared Vie.
After competing in Qatar, Vie has spent her time training in Paris. Despite being amidst such a beautiful city, Vie has kept most of her focus on training and learning new things to share with her fellow fencers back home.
“The fencing here is amazing and I am so excited to go back to the club and show everyone what I've learned! There are so many ways to condition and work-out for fencing in fun ways!” she said.
Vie has had the opportunity to bond with fencers from all over the world while in Paris, including the Chinese men’s and women’s teams. A language barrier presents no challenge though: “Even though they don't speak a lot of English, fencing is almost its own language with ways to communicate between one another throughout the bout.”
Now, as the fifth-ranked fencer in the United States, Vie is hoping to become the fourth member of the U.S. National Team and to compete on the Olympic Team. With her sponsors (Sword Masters, Palm Valley Animal Clinic, Faith and Flowers, and Canyon Country Contracting) behind her, more training and donations, she wishes to compete in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics.
“I am also so fortunate to have a club that supports me the way that our Falcons Family has supported me! I really feel like I have a whole team of fencers and fencing families behind me when I am fencing!”
To donate or learn more about Natalie Vie, visit www.natalieviefencing.com
