Budding fencers at Public School 255 received tips from the top when Olympic fencer Akhnaten (Aki) Spencer-El stopped by to lead a class.
The school’s fencing group had an opportunity to see the super athlete in action when he demonstrated the use of a saber and even engaged students in a mock joust in the gymnasium of the school,1866 East 17th Street
Aki, a native New Yorker, represented the United States in the 2000 Olympics and the 2002 Senior World Championships in Lisbon, Portugal.
The visit was part of the USS Intrepid’s “The Power of One” educational program, which acquaints youngsters with prominent members of the community, who share their experiences and insights about life challenges, how to achieve success, plus the importance of civic involvement and patriotism.
Fencing is one of the four sports which has been featured at every modern Olympic Games. Its first known use, in reference to English swordsmanship, is in William Shakespeare’s “Merry Wives of Windsor” when the servant, John Rugby laments: “Alas sir, I cannot fence.”
