Marcus Mepstead is one of BF’s rising stars, having his breakthrough season in the run-up to Rio 2016. Three consecutive top 16 finishes in international tournaments and the 2016 British National title cemented his place on Team GB. Following the closure of the BF World Class Programme in 2017, Marcus moved to New York where his hard work and determination resulted in him winning individual silver at the 2019 World Championships.
He started fencing aged nine at the Hall School (Swiss Cottage) and excelled as a Junior (under-20) fencer, claiming a gold medal at the 2007 World Cup in Burgsteinfurt and a silver medal at the 2009 World Cup in Mödling. He combined his fencing training with his studies at the London School of Economics, earning a 2:1 (Hons) Degree in Economics & Geography, before becoming a full-time fencer on British Fencing’s World Class Programme.
As well as being part of the 2010, 2013 and 2016 British teams that won a bronze medal at the European Championships, Marcus went down in history as a gold medallist in the Men’s Foil team at the inaugural European Games in Baku in 2015. His 2010 bronze medal meant he became Britain’s youngest athletes to win an European Fencing medal. Marcus was part of the team that achieved 6th place in the Rio Olympic Games.
After the closure of the World Class Programme, Marcus moved to New York to continue training and competing internationally.
He established his credentials as a world class fencer at the 2019 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary where he won individual silver, beating the world no 1 on the way to the finals.
When he’s not fencing, Marcus is a qualified personal trainer and a mentor to young athletes. Surfing is one of his passions but when he’s not near a beach other sports also feature on his hobby-list, including football and swimming.
In the future Marcus would like to make use of his coding knowledge and university degree, whether in conservation or in the business sector but for now Marcus is focussed on achieving World Championship and Olympic glory on the fencing piste.
Primary: Hall School, Swiss Cottage, London
Secondary: Westminster School, Westminster, London
University: London School of Economics, Economics & Geography, 2:1 BSc (Hons) in 2014
“I took up fencing almost by accident. After watching an after-school club I wanted to get involved and the rest history….. in the making…..”
“The best thing about the sport is the combination of the mental and physical aspects that fencing gives.”
“My best advice to budding fencers is to give everything you’ve got and trust yourself.”
“My fencing ambition is to be Olympic Champion.”
2010 & 2013 European Championships Team Bronze
http://fie.org/fencers/Marcus-MEPSTEAD-10213/career
Instagram @marcusmepstead
Twitter @marcusmepstead
Marcus talks through his hard journey to world silver medallist https://fie.org/articles/924
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