Showbiz Foils: USA Fencing Courts Hollywood on the Road to the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles

En garde! Fencing is having a moment in America, and USA Fencing is looking to ride that momentum into the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

Leaders of USA Fencing, the governing body for fencing in the U.S. and part of the U.S. Olympic Committee, have been making the rounds in Hollywood of late as part of a campaign to capitalize on the growing interest in the centuries-old sport described as “physical chess.”

“People found new things to try in the pandemic, and fencing was one of those things,” says Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing.

The ranks of industry insiders who have joined fencing clubs in recent years has grown, along with the number of clubs in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Los Angeles and Orange County, among other major cities. USA Fencing is emphasizing the history of fencing in film as it looks to generate enthusiasm for the sport in Hollywood that will eventually resonate with the general public.

USA Fencing CEO Phil Andrews