WATCH: Manitoba fencer Chantel Helwer training to make Canada’s Olympic team and looks to inspire others to pursue the sport.
WINNIPEG – It’s not your typical workout — a sword, a mask, a duel — but Chantel Helwer wouldn’t want to spend her free time any other way.
“Ill have my fencing bag and people will say ‘Are you going golfing?’ They just don’t even know what it is,” said Helwer.
Helwer first tried fencing 10 years ago while studying at the Royal Military College of Canada. She fell in love with the sport and hasn’t looked back since.
“I’d be in the gym by myself doing footwork and training and going to my coach and saying ‘Push me. I want to go harder, push me,’ ” said Helwer.
The 28-year-old’s drive took her from the sidelines to podiums in just a year. She has travelled to tournaments around the world, won 43 medals, is competing for Canada at the upcoming Commonwealth Fencing Championships and is training for a spot at the 2016 Olympics.
“This is for us the ultimate athletic achievement,” she said. “I want to do that before I retire.”
Helwer’s dream of making the Olympic team will cost more than $40,000 in training and travel costs this year. The University of Manitoba law student, who works a part-time job that helps pay for her fencing, does her own fundraising as well. She recently started an online campaign on Make a Champ, a crowdfunding site for athletes.
“Somebody like that you don’t find a lot — working, studies and running after a dream. It’s really crazy,” said Team Manitoba fencing coach Ayach Bounachada. “Mentally, if she wants to reach something, she’s going to have it.”
Helwer agrees and hopes to inspire other fencers facing similar challenges.
“For the next generation of girls or for my kids or anybody else, just push as hard as you can, don’t give up,” she said.
WATCH: Chantel Helwer demonstrates three important fencing moves with reporter Shannon Cuciz.
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