Signing off in style with gold double at the Sainsbury’s UK School Games

Published: September 8, 2011
by MATT WRIGHT

UNSTOPPABLE swordsman Soji Aiyenuro became one of most successful athletes to ever compete at the Sainsbury’s UK School Games at the weekend when he bagged double gold in the fencing.

The 17-year-old, who lives in Belsize Park, grabbed gold in his individual sabre competition before helping England win a team gold in Sheffield.

It means that Soji remains unbeaten in the youth games, winning a total of six gold medals over the past three years.

This year marked Soji’s final appearance at the games, with age dictating that he can no longer compete in the annual event.

And as a result, the City and Islington College student was over the moon to sign off on such a high.

“It feels really good to be a double gold medalist because it’s my last year coming to the UK School Games so you have to make it special,” he said.

“I think winning the individual title was extra special because I became one of only two athletes in the history of the games who has won gold three years in a row.

“The team event topped it off, so it was a perfect weekend.”

Soji, who trains at Camden Fencing Club, is already thinking big and is hoping to compete at the under-20s European and World Championships. He has even got his eye on the Olympics in Brazil in 2016.

“This season I’m hoping to make it to the European and World Championships. I’ll also be doing a few senior events and hopefully working my way towards Rio 2016,” he added.

Camden team-mate Gianfranco Artesi competed alongside Soji in the sabre event.

He finished a gallant sixth after losing narrowly 15-14 to Kirk Slankard in the last eight.

Overall, Camden Fencing Club, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this month, gained some excellent results in the UK School Games.

No fewer than four members from club were selected to represent England in Sheffield.

In the girls’ individual sabre, Camden produced both finalists with Aliya Itzkowitz defeating Izabela Sosnowska 15-10. Aliya, who was a double British Champion in both cadets (under-17s) and Junior (under-20s) last year, was a class act going through the tournament unbeaten.

• For more information about this year’s Sainsbury’s UK School Games visit www.ukschoolgames.com