Harvard Fencing will showcase its talent at the 2026 World Fencing Championships in Hong Kong from July 22-30, featuring students, alumni, and coaches. Five fencers will compete for the U.S. and Canada across three disciplines, while two coaches will support their national teams. Notably, Colin Heathcock '28 will represent Team USA in men's saber, following a strong performance at the Zonal championships where he secured a Silver Medal. Team Canada will include Olympians Lauren Scruggs '25 and Jessica Guo ’27, along with Lucia Zhang ’29 in women's foil, while Julie Xiao '30 will compete in women's saber.

By the Numbers
  • Colin Heathcock achieved a 6-0 pool record and a +22-touch indicator at the Zonals.
  • Lauren Scruggs earned a gold medal in the team event and bronze individually at Zonals.
State of Play
  • Individual pool play begins from July 23 for women's saber and July 24 for men's saber and women's foil.
  • The championship finals are slated for July 26 (women's saber) and July 27 (men's saber and women's foil).
What's Next

As the championships unfold, expectations are high for Harvard athletes to perform well, particularly Heathcock and the women's foil team, which has shown strong recent form. Their successes could set the stage for future international competitions.

Bottom Line

Harvard's strong representation at the World Championships highlights both individual talent and teamwork, underscoring the program's elite status in fencing. The outcomes will reflect the athletes' dedication and could enhance the university's reputation on the global stage.