[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/07/15/art.jacobson.jpg
caption=”Sada Jacobson, 25, is currently ranked the #1 Women’s Sabre Fencer in the world.”]
When Sada Jacobson tells people she’s a fencer, without a flinch most of them will “air poke” her with their finger. She laughs, “It’s not like I can fight them with my finger!” She takes their misconceptions of cartoonish medievalism with levity.
But there isn’t much humor when she’s training in the gym for the Beijing Olympics. It’s a daily regimen: cross-training, cardio, conditioning, lifting, icing, lunch, footwork, strategy, and of course, hours of fencing. Sada, 25, is currently ranked #1 in the world for women’s sabre, but there’s no time for that to go to her head.
Make no mistake, Sada wants the gold. She took the bronze at the 2004 games. She doesn’t fight off the mat, but this time she’s focused on a tough fight for what she left behind last time.
Update: Watch the CNN.com Live interview
Young People Who Rock 
Sada,
Have you ever been approached by those in the entertainment industry to to fencing scenes or act as a “double”? I imagine your talent would be very entertaining to watch in costume.
Hi Sada!
I’m Arabella Uhry — also profiled on Young People Who Rock last fall as a fencer (I’m 12 — I fence foil)
Do you find that you work as hard competing against a fencer that you know you can beat in a competition and do you universally stay at the top of your game against a weaker opponent? Also how do you keep focused at all times. At the USFA Summer Nationals in San Jose last week I fenced a very hard Cadet DE with almost 100 people watching and it was hard to keep my concentration. I did but it was VERY challenging. How do you block out the eyes of the world at the Olympics and simply focus on the job at hand!
Good luck to you and all the US fencers in Beijing. I know (and adore) Keeth and Erinn Smart.
Arabella Uhry
New York, NY
Empire United Fencing (NYC) and The Peter Westbrook Foundation (NYC)
What do you do when a competitor who you’ve fenced before has a a totally new strategy than you expected? Also, who’s been your best coach and why?
Which weapons does Sada specialize in (Epee, foil, Sabre), which one(s) will she be competing in, and which one is her favorite?
Wondering how you deal with some of the calls in fencing which can be a bit subjective in nature. Is there an approach you use to deal with that fact that not every touch is called exactly accurately?
you rock
your the best!!!!!!!
i want to learn tooooo 🙂
Sada sounds like an amazing athlete, I hope she takes the gold this year!
Why did you choose to compete in sabre rather than foil or epee?
Sada,
Great to see the publicity you’re receiving. It’s awesome that you’re going in ranked #1. Good luck in Beijing.
Craig
http://www.fencing.net/
Please CNN get your facts straight. It should read “Sada Jacobson, 25, is currently ranked #1 in the world for women’s sabre.” Big difference.
How does it feel to be exceptional in a sport that is overlooked and ignored in the US? I tried to watch fencing on TV in ’04, and had trouble finding it. Even when I did, it was hard to follow the action on tv because the fast moving blades are hard to see.
-A former recreational fencer (epee)
Do people ever refer to you as SayJay in the fencing community, similar to JLo or LiLo in the entertainment industry?
Sada,
Which countries are the traditional ‘powerhouses’ in fencing? And a big thank you for increasing awareness of this ancient sport!
Todd
Hi Sada, hope you strike gold in Beijing. Since I work with young children, in this case people with ADHD, what I would like to ask you is – what kind of mental training do you receive to stay at the top of your game day-in day-out?
Hello Sada Jacobson, I have an “unusual” question for you. I have read some where that top athletes are very much into hair removal stuff. They say removing unwanted hair is a must so that it would not hinder your movements and speed. I am wondering if this is true.
Sada,
Best wishes to you in Beijing! I have a lot of respect for what you’ve accomplished in fencing.
Here’s my question: Many successful fencers give up fencing at some point in order to focus on the future. How long do you plan to keep fencing in your life (in any form), and what do you plan to do after college? Do you see fencing as a permanent part of your life?
All the best,
Meredith
http://www.rocarts.com/sabrecat
Sada won Silver in Beijing! Congrats, Sada!
Good morning Sada,
We just wanted to let you know that we appreciate all of your efforts.
Darius from Canada,
http://www.GodYesOrNo.com
Hey,
You must feel really good because you are on YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ROCK well good luck with that!! k! pce out cub scout
-sammie
YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ROCK submitted committes