Kent Sport is proud to highlight the achievements of 2nd year Computer Science undergraduate Oliver Faulkner. Oliver has been supported by the Kent Sport team ever since he joined the university, both by the amazing GP referral staff and through the Sports Scholarship Scheme. Oliver regularly competes in a wheelchair in both Sabre and Epee (two of the three weapons used in the sport of fencing), as well as representing the university out of the wheelchair at weekly BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) team fixtures.
Pisa, well known for its Leaning Tower, recently hosted the aptly named ‘Leaning Tower Para Fencing World Cup’. An international fencing competition attracting high-level athletes from around the globe, with many Paralympic athletes in attendance. Following a successful season competing at the Welsh Open and British Para Nationals, Oliver was eligible to enter and attend his first international competition.
The competition and build-up was a rollercoaster of emotions for Oliver. As a para-athlete, pre-competition classification was an essential part of the competition experience. This is an essential process as it ensures a level playing field for all those taking part, as without this step, athletes with mismatched levels of function may compete against each other. Unfortunately, these checks threw an unexpected spanner in the works for Oliver. Originally, he travelled to the Italian city expecting to compete as a ‘Category B fencer’, the second of the two para-categories containing fencers with less function. Following his classification check, he was placed into Category A. This, alongside a particularly long weapons check, resulted in a less-than-ideal lead-up to the competition, adding to the already high-stress environment of a first international competition. Oliver, a huge music fan, credited his ‘gearing up’ playlist for helping him to get his mental state right following these unexpected disruptions. ‘Blue Monday’ by New Order was a particular favourite.
Despite all this, and fuelled by a healthy portion of pizza and focaccia sandwiches, Oliver went into the competition ready to compete. The competition itself was a great development opportunity. Competing against such high-level athletes allowed Oliver to really challenge his skills, learning to tweak his style and tactics mid-bout and helping him to have competitive matches against high-ranked, experienced international fencers. Being immersed in this environment also gave Oliver the opportunity to watch and speak to his peers, learning the tricks of the trade.
Reflecting on the experience, Oliver said: “The 2026 Pisa World Cup was an experience I will keep with me for the rest of my life. I felt an overwhelming sense of pride getting on that plane for my first ever international [competition], representing the university. I was very lucky to be able to go to the competition with such incredible wheelchair fencers and to have amazing support from brilliant coaches and my family. I have really appreciated the support the scheme has given me, especially access to strength and conditioning classes and physio, which have not only made me a fitter athlete but have also helped improve my overall stamina and strength. The support I was given in the lead-up to the competition put me in really good shape to perform my best in Pisa.”
Oliver returned to the UK following the memorable experience; however, the journey was not yet over. With a good overall performance attracting the attention of GB coaching staff, he was invited to a Para Transition Camp, allowing him to train in a world-class environment and further advance his fencing skills.
Congratulations Oliver, and best of luck for the future!