When Jordan Le Feuvre steps onto the piste, she does it with focus, precision and a quiet confidence that belies her age. At just 17, she has been selected to represent South Africa at the Junior African Fencing Championships in Senegal, making her one of the youngest female fencers chosen for the continental event.
But the opportunity comes at a cost, one she must cover herself.
“We are aiming for about R75,000, because this trip is totally self-funded,” Jordan says. “You do not get any support from any fencing federation. You’re told about two months before the actual competition that you have been selected.”
Jordan is from Nelson Mandela Bay in the Eastern Cape, where she started fencing four years ago alongside her younger brother. What began as a once-a-week activity quickly turned into something far bigger.
“From starting out as just doing fencing for a fun thing each week to representing South Africa now, it’s such a life-changing thing for me,” she says.
Her rise has been fuelled by discipline and consistency. Jordan trains every weekday, carefully managing her body around competition season.
“I train every day of the working week. Saturdays and Sundays are normally my rest days. Working up to competitions though, I do still train, just lighter sessions.”
That commitment has translated into results. Jordan is currently ranked fifth in the country in both Under-17 and Under-20 women’s épée. She has also carved out a path beyond competing, becoming the only female referee in the Eastern Cape, and the first woman to do so in the province.
“I never thought I’d be able to get this far,” she says. “It’s been an incredible journey. I am very excited to be going and representing South Africa, and I am looking forward to seeing what fencing internationally looks like and how I can come back here and improve more for next year.”
For Jordan, Senegal is not just another competition. It is a chance to test herself on an international stage and to prove that talent from the Eastern Cape belongs there too.
But time is running out.
Jordan has just two weeks to raise the funds needed to make the trip, a moment that could define the next chapter of her fencing career.
And for now, the biggest battle she faces isn’t across the piste.
It is making sure she gets to Senegal at all.
For those who would like to help her fulfil her dream, they can donate through her Back a Buddy campaign called "Help me to get to junior African fencing champs".
