Leboile set eyes on being a fencing great
Her love for fencing developed in 2008 after watching the Summer Olympics, however, 28-year-old Kate Leboile only became actively involved with the sport in 2016.
The Botswana Accountancy College (BA (Hons Business Entrepreneurship), and University of Pretoria (Fraud and Risk Management) graduate has already set her eyes on being a Fencing Master, just five years after learning how to use foils and epees.
In an interview with Voice Sport this week Leboile said after toying with the idea of learning how to fence for many years, she finally made up her mind in 2016 after seeing one Robert Mothapo’s Facebook post calling out to interested sports lovers to join fencing.
The Bobonong-born lass said she quickly signed up with Mothapo’s University of Botswana Club and has never looked back.
“I worked really hard to learn all the necessary skills to be a great fencer,” she said proudly.
Despite her enthusiasm for the sport, Mothapo said she has endured her fair share of frustrations due to the many challenges face by the sport.
“Fencing is not a popular sport in the country, so it’s very difficult to get the needed financial backing. The equipment and gear are also very expensive which means most of the time we’re ill-equipped,” lamented Mothapo.
“Furthermore, there are no training facilities and that is frustrating for some who want to grow and become one of the best in the world, because in order to achieve that it requires intensive training,” she said.
The aspirant Fencing Master however had something to smile about in 2020 after winning her biggest fight against the country’s top player Aobakwe Modise a fortnight ago.
“Winning a gold medal against Modise is a highlight of my career. She’s a charismatic fencer and defeating her is indicative of my progress in the sport,” she said.
Leboile who’s also a business consultant and fitness trainer told Voice Sport that her ultimate goal is to gain as much experience as she possibly can and hen set up an academy where she’ll focus her energies on developing kids from a tender age.
“It will greatly please me to see this sport growing in this country, and that can only be possible if we plant the seed at the grassroots level,” Leboile told Voice Sport.
