140322-F-NL936-209

by SSgt Andrew Lee

U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Alex Chiang reaches out and hits his opponent to score a point during a foil fencing match at the NCAA Fencing Championships in Columbus, Ohio, March 22, 2014. The foil is used as a thrusting weapon only. Contact with the side of the blade from a slap or slash does not result in a score.  Foil is one of the three weapons of modern fencing, with the other two being épée and sabre. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Lee)

Photographer's Narrative

 

At the 2014 NCAA Fencing Championships I covered an Air Force Academy cadet competing with another college student. I was getting plenty of shots on the level the participants were, but then I saw there was a maintenance walkway at the top of the gymnasium. I asked the people in charge and got access to the walkway, which allowed me to use a long lens and capture the moment, when he struck his opponent and received a point.