Harry Saner secures qualification to the 2024 Paris Olympics
- By S’fiso Nyawo
South African fencer, Harry Saner, secures qualification to represent South Africa at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
A big congratulations goes out to one of our Fencing star, Harry Saner, who recently did incredibly well at the Men’s Individual Epee event at the African qualifiers in Alger, Algeria to se
cure qualification, where he will be representing South Africa at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Johannesburg born and raised, Saner, is in his 4th year of his Mechanical Engineering degree and is no stranger to the green and gold in Fencing. He has represented the nation numerous times in multiple international events. He however views his most notable achievements as an individual coming at the African Championships, where he clinched a bronze in 2022. He further holds a healthy medal cabinet, with multiple bronze team medals as well. Harry’s 14-year fencing career so far also includes multiple participation at the world championships.
Harry traces back his love for Fencing coming from his fascination with movies at a young age.
“As a kid, I watched a lot of movies and was absolutely fascinated with all the sword fights. At some point I saw fencing on the TV, and I saw full armour fencing as well. I decided I wanted to be a knight in shining armour. So, I begged my dad to find a fencing place and the rest was history. In terms of modelling my game, I pick up from as many other people as I can in order to make my fencing my own.”
With a solid foundation, Harry was always destined for greatness. He took us back to how he competed at the Epee event in Algeria and what lessons he picked up.
“The event in Algeria went perfectly because I won!! I absolutely had a lot to learn on the day as there were a few close calls for my most important fights. With the semifinal, I lost a significant lead and then I had to fight for my life to make sure I won. My opponent was 14-13 up and it's 15 to win. Luckily, I made the score even and then I landed the winning point. In the finals at the beginning, I had lost the lead but then regained it quickly and managed to maintain it for most of the fight and was absolutely ecstatic to secure that victory. I had never experienced so many emotions in one day before. So, I essentially learnt to manage myself very well to stay on track and refocus so that I could win the final.”
After securing the victory, Harry certainly did not hold back his celebrations, as he knew the goal of Paris Olympics 2024 was well within his grasp.
“Everybody knew that winning the qualifier meant qualifying for Paris. I made sure to calmly walk to my line, salute my opponents and shake hands. Once the Referee had awarded me the match, I was screaming at the top of my voice for as long and as hard as I could, so much so that my voice broke but I kept screaming. It was an absolutely electrifying moment and I'm so glad that my friends and family were there to join me in the victory.”
With the preparations now well underway, Harry exclaims that he isn't going to stray too far away from what's worked for him so far.
“I'm completely focused on my preparation. I'm making sure to manage myself as well as possible. I'm not changing anything with regards to my training, other than increasing the intensity in my training. I'm training specifically to perform as well as possible at the Olympics.”
When asked about the benefit of Fencing to him, Harry looked far beyond himself. He dreams of seeing the growth of Fencing in the country.
“The biggest benefit for me at competing at such a high level has been the inspiration that I give to the younger people in the fencing community. Seeing the excitement of familiar faces basking in victory with me, is such a meaningful experience and I hope that my continuation to compete at such a high level will help to grow our fencing community, as well as inspire as many South Africans as possible.”
Harry always manages to find the best out of everything, including his balance in his academics and his fencing, which he finds works hand-in-hand.
“I think fencing actually improves my academics. Being so fit and having to train allows me to stay focused for longer, which assists in my studies as I then find myself being more productive. I have however also had a few hiccups along the way, which is common with any engineering degree, and this has had many of my peers left amazed at how I can manage both my degree and my Fencing. I've managed to do both by studying whenever I can between my training and during competition preparation. For example, I've spent many hours looking at my books either on buses or during travel and in strange and foreign places.”
Harry concluded the interview, sharing his gratitude to some of the people and institutions that have helped him steer his career to where he finds himself today.
“It takes a village to raise a child and I couldn't have made it or gone as far as I have without the support of my friends, family and training partners at my home fencing club, Tyshler Fencing School. I look forward to working more with the Wits Fencing Club to deepen the love and passion for Fencing and so that I can share the awesome joys the sport has brought me with even more Witsies.”