Mikayla Chusid’s initiation into the world of fencing was unconventional. Inspired by her older sister, Chusid embarked on this journey at the tender age of five. A young enthusiast, Chusid always watched her sister fence, thinking, “It was so cool and looked like a lot of fun, but I was too young to join.” Despite her mother being worried about Chusid fencing at the age of five and being the youngest in the group in her club, Chusid “quickly improved and got to fence in the advanced class in her club at the age of 7” along with her sister. From these beginnings, Chusid evolved into a fencing prodigy and ultimately triumphed in the world of fencing.

When asked about her favorite accomplishments, Chusid responded with getting [in the] top eight two times in senior competitions, which is really hard to accomplish.” Chusid further secured second place at the Junior World Cup, paired with gold and bronze medals in the Cadet and Junior Pan American Championships. After securing gold and bronze, Chusid explained how it was a “nice way to close out [her] career [as a] cadet.” In Junior Women’s Foil, Chusid ranked fifth in the world. 

The path to excellence is seldom easy, and Chusid’s training schedule attests to the dedication required to get to where she is today. Practicing “Monday through Friday from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm” coupled with “four private lessons a week that are each thirty minutes long,” Chusid’s commitment and level of discipline are showcased to compete at the highest echelons of fencing. Chusid is further occupied with fencing occupations over the weekend, which are often “hectic when traveling for international world cups for cadets and juniors along with going to North American Cups (NACs).” When practicing at her club in New Jersey and not traveling, Chusid explained that she likes to “focus a lot on [her] distance and tempo while practicing, along with trying new moves and fine-tuning pieces of [her] fencing to make it the best it possibly could be.” Such aspects reveal that excellence demands a perpetual quest for perfection. 

International competitions pose unique challenges where diverse fencing styles clash, and Chusid has embraced these hurdles. When asked about these challenges, Chusid explains that at International World Cup competitions, “fencers from around the world come and compete, which is at first hard to get used to since a lot of fencers from different countries have a very different fencing style than what American fencers are used to.” Parallel to international competitions, senior competitions encompass a particular level of intensity, as “you get to fence with Olympians, high-ranked college fencers, and just the top fencers in the US.” For Chusid, these competitions are opportunities to push “you to do more and fence with 110% effort, which is why [she] likes senior competitions so much.”

Behind Chusid’s triumphs stand her dedicated coaches. For the past twelve years, Chusid explains how her coaches have helped her fencing by “coming up with strategies and tactics that are complementary to [her] fencing and that could work well for me to use against my opponents.” Chusid’s sister, who doubled as a training partner during the challenges of COVID-19, played a pivotal role in her journey. In a period of isolation and lockdown, Chusid’s sister helped her by practicing every day they were at home. The unwavering support of her parents has been a cornerstone, fostering an environment of encouragement and unwavering belief as they were “always encouraging and believing in [her] no matter what.”

Chusid’s journey from a young enthusiast to a world-ranked fencer is a testament to the heights one can reach with resilience, passion, and an unyielding spirit. Chusid shares how “anything is possible, no matter the circumstance. If you put your mind to it, work super hard, and are patient, you can achieve anything you want.” Chusid’s journey resonates as an inspiration to all aspiring Indian Hills athletes, illustrating that with dedication, the pursuit of excellence knows no bounds.