Veras delivers perfect end to Americas Championships for hosts

The win saw her beat one of her country’s most-liked fencers – Fabiana Soares – for the women’s foil category A title and her second victory of the competition.

Veras’s story is an inspirational one – before she fenced for the national wheelchair fencing team she volunteered at competitions and was motivated to compete herself.

In Tuesday’s final Veras had a strong start but Soares managed to claw back some points and bring herself within touching distance of her opponent. That seemed to provide the push that Veras needed and the 26-year-old found her rhythm, clearing Soares by an eventual four points.

But Veras was unable to celebrate like she would normally.

“I was touched in the groin in my match with Ana Elisa Paz and I felt pain,” Veras said. “I didn’t celebrate my touches because I needed to rest. [But ] I’m celebrating two gold and a silver medal from this competition, and it was really worth it.”

The win adds to Veras’s epee win from earlier on in the competition.

Canada’s Amber Briar finished on the podium, taking her first major international medal with bronze. Brazilian Carminha Oliveira claimed her second bronze.

The USA’s Ellen Geddes secured victory against Brazil’s Monica Santos in Tuesday’s other clash – the women’s foil category B.

The American was delighted with her performance which adds to the epee title she grabbed on the first day of competition.

“It has been phenomenal to be here, everything has gone really well,” Geddes said. “It’s obviously easy to be happy when you’ve done well. I am very happy. I won every single bout I fenced today.

Geddes also gave a special mention to her coach Justin Meehan who could not be in Sao Paulo, crediting him with knowing how to work with her “particular brain”.

Canada’s Trinity Lowthian celebrated a sweep of medals from all weapons, taking bronze. Suelen Rodolpho of Brazil also claimed a place in the top three.

The 2022 IWAS Wheelchair Fencing Americas Championships took place from 22-25 October.

Brazil finished top of the medals table with 11 golds, six silver and 15 bronze. The USA were second with three golds, six silver and four bronze followed by Canada with three golds, one silver and five silvers.

Venezuela, competing at an Americas Championships for the first time, take home a silver and three bronze.