Jamaican Makes History by Becoming First Female Fencer To Win at Pan American Championships

Tia Simms-Lymn

Tia Simms-Lymn

A Jamaican teenager has written her name in the history books by becoming the country’s first female fencer to be crowned Pan American champion.

Tia Simms-Lymn, who was born in Britain, claimed gold at the Cadet Junior Pan American Fencing Championships underway in Toronto, Canada, where 20 countries from the region are being represented.

Entering the championships ranked number seven in the women’s epée, 15-year-old Simms-Lymn beat No. 1 seed Alexanne Verret of Canada 11-9 in an enthralling finale.

She had earlier whipped the 10th-ranked Catalina Leiva of Chile 15-6, before eking out a narrow 15-13 margin over Puerto Rico’s Monica Lubczynski in the semi-final.

The Jamaican athlete also has the distinction of now being ranked No. 2 in Great Britain, where she resides with her parents.

Source: Caribbean360

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