Kenyan fencer Alexandra Ndolo makes history at the world stage

Kenyan German-born Alexandra Ndolo made history on Sunday becoming the first Kenyan woman to over compete in a major at FIE fencing world cup.

Fencing is an organized sport involving the use of a sword—épée, foil, or sabre—for attack and defense according to set movements and rules. Although the use of swords dates to prehistoric times and swordplay to ancient civilizations, the organized sport of fencing began only at the end of the 19th century.

In a crowded field that saw 271 participate, the left-handed épée fencer who has been fencing for Kenya from 2022 finished an impressive tenth.

And she was elated by her feat, writing on her Twitter handle,  “Seeing the Kenyan flag raised high in the competition hall was a goosebumps moment. This was a great start into the season more to come.”

Born 36 years ago, in Bayreuth, Northern Bavaria, Germany, to a Kenyan father, Ndolo represented Germany at the 2013 Summer Universiade held in Kazan, Russia and has won major medals in her previous championships, notably a silver in the women's épée event at the 2017 European Fencing Championships held in Tbilisi, Georgia.

At the 2022 World Fencing Championship held on African soil in Cairo Egypt in July she also bagged bronze.