Ellen Geddes made her Paralympic debut in Category B women’s epee, taking 11th.
(Tokyo, Japan) – All three members of the U.S. Paralympic Team were in action on Thursday in the individual women’s epee events, with each taking a top-16 result.
2020 Paralympic Games Live Results
In the category A competition, first-time Paralympian Shelby Jensen (Salt Lake City, Utah / Valkyrie Fencing Club), who competed Wednesday in women’s saber, finished 12th.
The two-time Pan American Championship medalist went 1-3 in a pool in which all her opponents have a World or Paralympic medal. Jensen overcame two-time individual World medalist Marta Fidrych (POL), 5-4, to advance to the direct elimination rounds, where she lost to 2016 Paralympic team bronze medalist Amarilla Veres (HUN), 15-5.
“[I feel] good,” Jensen said. “I’m glad I made it past pools and into my first DE … I think I fenced [Veres] better than I have in the past.”
In the category B event, Ellen Geddes (Johnston, S.C.) and Terry Hayes (North Fort Myers, Fla. / Southwest Florida Fencing Academy) also earned top-16 finishes, taking 11th and 14th, respectively.
A four-time World Team member, Geddes made her Paralympic debut, going 2-4 in pools, including victories against two-time Paralympic team medalist Gyongi Dani (HUN), 5-2, and 2019 World bronze medalist in saber Rosssana Pasquino (ITA), 5-3, to finish 11th.
“I played my game,” Geddes said of her victories. “I waited and I watched and did my best to ruin all of their plans that they had.”
First-time Paralympian and 2019 World Team member Hayes also competed, going 0-6 in pools to finish 14th.
“I feel better about today’s competition and I felt really good about how I was moving in the chair and just more settled in the competition since it’s the second day,” said Hayes, who also competed Wednesday in saber. “I’m very happy with how I did today.”
Jensen, Geddes and Hayes return to action tomorrow, fencing together in the team epee event.