Meet the Olympic Hopeful and founder of TFA | Natalia Toby

I started fencing during my first year in high school which is surprisingly a pretty late start for fencing. I was 2nd in NJ by my senior year of high school and received a full ride to a Division I university. At Fairleigh Dickinson University I became 3x captain of my team, 3x qualifier for NCAA, 21st in the country, 2x woman athlete of the year, and became US Gold medalists by my senior year of college. Now that I have graduated college, I am a 2024 Olympic hopeful, currently training with one of the top 5 coaches in the world. Like most Olympic athletes, we have to fund our way to the top; fencing is a very expensive sport. I started this company to fund my Olympic dreams and introduce my passion to my community. While I train in France with Daniel Levavasseur, I realize how practical fencing is to many french people and I envy how easy and normal fencing is for Europeans. My mission with TFA is to model the European culture of fencing for the young people in my community. I want people to experience this life-changing sport along with me.

 

Fun facts about me

I find shopping at the grocery store and cooking dinner very therapeutic.

 

Fencing allowed me to go to college (and study abroad in China) for free. I am in the FDU Hall of Fame for being the best fencer in FDU history!

I moved to France alone (in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic) to train with Daniel Levavasseur; it all started with one email.

Meet the Coaches

  • Blessing

    - Ranked 105 in the world

    - On team Nigeria 🇳🇬

    - Is teaching the class to have a flexible job that allows her to fence internationally.

  • Shea

    - Div I fencer @ Fairleigh Dickinson University

    - Getting her masters in Psychology

    - Is teaching the class because as a student-athlete it's hard to have a job!