Transgender female fencer scores world title over 14-time champion

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A transgender female fencer picked up an eighth world championship on Sunday at the 2023 FIE Veteran Fencing World Championships.

Liz Kocab won in the Vet Women’s Epee over 14-time champion Marja-Liisa Someroja of Finland in Florida. It is the second time Kocab has won in the 70+ age category.

"I wanted to support USA Fencing," Kocab said after the bout, via USA Fencing. "I really did. Otherwise, I was actually thinking of stepping away. But the fact that it was in America, I thought that was important to support the USA. This is my way of saying thanks to USA Fencing."

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Kocab and USA Fencing came under fire because the fencer was allowed to compete in the women’s category. However, USA Fencing implemented its own transgender and nonbinary athlete policy in November 2022. 

The organization allows competitors to "participate in USA Fencing-sanctioned events in a manner consistent with their gender identity/expression, regardless of the gender associated with the sex they were assigned at birth."

USA Fencing said in a news release that it was an "important first step toward expanding access to the sport of fencing and creating inclusive and safe spaces that promote equality and fairness for all."

"It is critical that we protect the rights of nonbinary and transgender athletes in fencing," USA Fencing CEO Phil Andrews said at the time. "Even as we plan to conduct more scientific research into the physiological effects of gender transition as they pertain specifically to the sport of fencing, we remain unanimously and steadfastly supportive of transgender athletes having their place in