In this podcast, we hear from a group of athletes, women of colour who have competed in fencing at both national and international levels. We hear about what inspired them to pick up a sword, motivated and propelled them to success and gain an insight into the positive impact fencing has had on these women’s lives.

The athletes also talk openly about the barriers they’ve faced and the challenges they have had to overcome on their journeys. The challenges of being both women and women of colour in environments where they were not truly welcomed, supported or respected as equals and the impact it’s had on them.

To break down these barriers we need to listen to those willing to talk openly about their experiences, however uncomfortable this might make us feel and take positive action to prevent others from having similar experiences both inside and outside of sport.

This episode was produced and recorded by Muslim Girls Fence.

Muslim Girls Fence is a collaboration between BF and Maslaha, that aims to facilitate spaces at a grassroots level, centering the needs of Muslim women and girls and open to all women, challenging assumptions and narratives relating to their gender, racial, religious and other identities through fencing and creative expression.

Facilitator: Yvonne Chart

Fencers: Mercedes Baptise-Halliday, Leah King, Ayesha Fihosy and Aliya Itzkowitz