Today we have a truly inspiring guest — Jataya Taylor, who is one of six fencers for Team USA at the Paralympic Games Paris 2024.
Jataya's journey to the Paralympics is one of resilience, determination and incredible spirit. A former Marine, Jataya faced significant challenges after sustaining serious injuries during her service, which eventually led to the amputation of her left leg. But that didn't stop her. Encouraged by another military veteran, she discovered fencing and has since become a dedicated competitor in both epee and foil. As she prepares to compete in her first Paralympic Games, we’re going to chat about Jataya’s story, her training regimen, and what it means to represent Team USA on the world stage.
[0:00:01] BW: Hello, and welcome to First to 15, the official podcast of USA Fencing. I'm your host, Bryan Wendell, and in this show, you're going to hear from some of the most inspiring, interesting, and insanely talented people in the sport we all love. First to 15 is for anyone in the fencing community, and even for those just checking out fencing to see what it's all about. Whether you're an Olympian or a Paralympian, a newcomer, a seasoned veteran, a fencing parent, a fan, or anyone else in this wonderful community, this podcast is for you. With that, let's get to today's episode. Enjoy.
[EPISODE]
[0:00:40] BW: All right. Today, we have a truly inspiring guest, it's Jataya Taylor, who is one of six fencers for team USA, who is qualified for the Paralympic Games, Paris, 2024. Jataya's journey to the Paralympics, I've gotten to see some of it myself at various NACs and other competitions, and it's been truly inspiring.
Jataya is a former Marine and faced some challenges after sustaining injuries during her service. Eventually, that led to the amputation of her left leg, but that didn't stop her. She was encouraged by another military veteran to try fencing, which was one of many sports that she participated in, and we'll get into that. Obviously, that suggestion was good, because now she's headed to the Paralympics in fencing, and has really excelled in two weapons. So, as she gets ready to compete in those first Paralympic Games for her, we're going to chat about the journey there, some of the training that she's been up to, and also what it means to represent Team USA in Paris. So, hey, Jay. Good to see you. Thanks for joining us.
[0:01:39] JT: Thanks for having me with you today.
[0:01:41] BW: Yes, this is great. So, we've actually done quite a few interviews, just never a podcast, because you have a habit of winning a lot of tournaments. One of my things I love to do at USA fencing tournaments is interview those gold medalists to hear about that. But this one's a little different, because we're talking about the Paralympics now. Has it sunk in yet that you are a Paralympian? Or, when do you think it's going to really hit you?
[0:02:06] JT: Honestly, I don't think it'll hit me until I'm there on the piece fencing, because right now it's stressful, but not about the Paralympics. It's just the idea of traveling, having to get everything done before I leave.
[0:02:19] BW: Right. Yes, just being away from your work, and friends, and family, and everything for that long. Was watching the Olympics, where Team USA also got to fence in the Grand Palais, which is where you're going to get to fence. Did that make you more nervous, more excited? What was it like watching some of that chapter one of this two-chapter journey in Paris?
[0:02:41] JT: It was exciting to get to watch Team USA do their thing. But it was also more investigative for me, hearing how loud it was, seeing how things are kind of set up, so trying to get lay in the land before I go.
[0:02:56] BW: Right. Yes, some insight into that. Yes, it was noisy in there. I can say from experience. My colleague, Nicole, will get to be there with you all at the Paralympics, and we'll get to experience just how loud it gets in there. But I can't imagine you've fenced in that type of environment before. So, is there a way to train for fencing on such a grand stage?
[0:03:18] JT: There's not really. I mean, nothing close to that. But when we fence in Italy and other places, they'll bring a whole bunch of people in, especially like school-aged children, and it gets really loud. So, that is a little bit, but been playing music really loud. Because I wear hearing aids, and so I know hearing is going to be an issue. So, anything I tend to distract myself or make it harder to hear the en garde, just trying to prepare the best I can, but knowing you can't prepare for everything.
[0:03:47] BW: Yes. Because it's not a sport where you can truly tune out all sounds, because you have to be able to hear the ref, right? Especially in parafencing and wheelchair fencing, it's almost like the timing is even more important than in Olympic fencing. You got to be able to hear it and then react right away. Am I right on that?
[0:04:06] JT: Definitely. I mean, because we're that much closer. So, if you hesitate for a second, you're going to score on you. So, there's different things, because if your back is to the ref and you can't hear, you can't see their hands. Other hand, if you can see their hands, the en garde ready, you can see. But since they don't move their hand on fence, you still have to be prepared.
[0:04:29] BW: I never even thought about that. So, this may be a newbie question, but how is it determined who is on each side in wheelchair fencing and parafencing? Is it, who's going to be the fencer on the left, possibly with their back to the ref, and who's going to be on the right?
[0:04:45] JT: So, honestly, I'm still learning. I remember once, they are like, the person who's the highest will be on the right at the highest seating, or whatever. Other times, they're just like, we have a righty, we have a lefty. If we put the lefty on the left side, then they're going to be facing away from the crowd. Why not just flip them around? Sometimes they'll do that just for esthetics.
[0:05:06] BW: That makes sense. Yes. You want to make sure to put on a show for everybody and yes, which I love to see. So, we're kind of getting our head of ourselves because I'm so excited to talk to you about the Paralympics. But for those who aren't as familiar with your story, how did you get into fencing in the first place? We kind of talked a little bit little bit about it in the intro, but what was your journey into fencing?
[0:05:27] JT: Like you said, I did a lot of different sports, and unfortunately, I started having crazy medical issues, neurological issues. It just came out of nowhere. So, I had pretty much stopped doing most of my sports. One day, the Denver VA rec therapist called, and it's like, "Hey, we have fencing. Do you want to try?" I'm like, "Fencing? What's that?" You see it on TV, and then you're like, "Wheelchair fencing?" I'm like, "I've never even heard of that. Are you making sports up now?"
So, I came up to the Denver Fencing Center. We came to the Denver Fencing Foundation, and I did it February 2022, like two, maybe three times. Then, I left for three months. So, when I got back, a fellow veteran and fencer was like, she saw me again at a Dragon Boat Festival, and she's like, "So, are you going to go back to fencing?" I was like, "Ah, I don't know. My life is really complicated right now." She's like, "No, you need to go back and fence." So that's when I was like, "Fine."
Then, when I went back, that's when I truly fell in love with the sport. Because even with everything going on in my life that I lost the ability to do some of the sports that I love. I was able to do fencing no matter how bad my condition was that day, and that just – it stuck. I mean, they gave a Marine a sword, and said, "Stab at someone." I mean, how agnostic.
[0:07:01] BW: Who's going to say no to that? So, in talking with you, I know that originally you were thinking, "Hey, maybe, I'm having some success. Maybe LA 28 is a possibility." That's a lofty enough goal. At what point did you realize that Paris was on the table and that that could happen for you?
[0:07:23] JT: It's funny, because when I was recruited to do this, they said they were recruiting me for LA 2028. So, I just kind of go along with the flow, did my first team competition, did my first NAC, because I officially started August of 2022 and did the October that year. Because they want to take me to the DC World Cup, and they're like, "We could bring you there, and you haven't competed yet." So, I did the October NAC and I did pretty well.
It really didn't dawn on us until DC. We did foil first, and I bit it, I bit the dust. I made most of my goal, which was to try to get at least two points on each person, and I did okay. Then, epee came, and I just tore everyone up. That was the blade I had started with. So, they're like, "Wow, you actually are doing really good. Let's go ahead and see if we can do international stuff." But it wasn't until probably right before May 2023 that we realized I actually had a chance to make my Paris requirements.
[0:08:42] BW: Yes. The qualification process, it's pretty complicated, but it boils down to your performances at these international events. Plus, where you rank within our zone, the America's zone. So, was there a point at which you knew you had been – you had locked in a spot for Paris. Was that a phone call? Was it a realization you had? Was it an email? What was that moment?
[0:09:10] JT: It's funny, because we have to be top 30 in the world to even be considered. I was already so far behind everyone that we did the math, and I had just enough competitions to catch up. But the only way I was even guaranteed to really even be considered was for our zonals in Brazil. That was just earlier this year. So, to make my individual qualification to be the top of the zone, I would have had to take a gold in foil. I took three golds home and one silver, and that one silver was in foil, because my US teammate beat me out. So, she took my guaranteed spot, which, "Hey, she beat me, but I can't complain." But then, my teammates did one better, and to make sure that I was able to go, that teamwork came in, and we beat Brazil in teams, and was first in our region. That really kind of helped solidify my ability to go.
[0:10:15] BW: Yes. It was that moment where you realized that, was there one moment, was there a phone call or anything, where somebody said, "Hey, you're definitely going." Because one thing about fencing, both Olympic and Paralympic, is we don't have like trials where if you win this one race, then you're going to the Olympics or Paralympics. It's these, let's be honest, that's a pretty complicated system of points. and qualifications, and rankings. So, was it a slow realization? Did a coach, or maybe Beth, or someone give you a call?
[0:10:50] JT: Yes. I mean, it's one of those you're pretty sure you're going but there's no guarantee. Then, it was either the end of June or beginning of July. Honestly, I can't remember. It's all a blur now. But I got a call from our performance team manager that said that I was going.
[0:11:09] BW: Yes, that's a fun call to get.
[0:11:11] JT: It was that call that guaranteed, that solidified it, and changed everything.
[0:11:16] BW: Yes, that's awesome. So, let's talk about the training, because you got that call saying you're going, and now you've got a certain amount of time to train and prepare. What have you been doing? What has your training looked like over the past couple of months?
[0:11:32] JT: So, besides going up to the Olympic Paralympic training center for a week to get to train with our folks all together in one place, I've been training three days a week for fencing and then cross training, doing strength and conditioning, stretching. Anything I can do to keep my strength up, be ready to fence might not make any of my medical conditions any worse than they are.
[0:12:01] BW: Yes, it's a balance. Obviously, you've got a great family at the Denver Fencing Center that's helping you there. Can we talk about what Nathan and the team at the Denver Fencing Center have done there? What makes them so unique? Because there's not a lot of clubs that are even at this point offering parafencing, let alone sending people to the Paralympics in the sport.
[0:12:28] JT: So, one thing I've always noticed in sports is, being a female when I was playing able-bodied basketball, I was picked last because they didn't want a girl on their team. You see that in a lot of different sports. Here at the fencing center, we're all a family. When I need someone to practice with, someone able-bodied will hop in the chair if there's no one else there, no questions asked. Or, they'll come bother me and be like, "Do you need to fence someone? Are you supposed to be practicing?" I was like, "Yes." They'll go hop in the chairs. There's no question. They all see something needs to be done, and they're there to help, and it's just such a welcoming environment that that's probably what made this a sport that I will never leave.
[0:13:12] BW: Yes, I really like that. Like you said, it is a family. So, it occurs to me like what – not that this is your problem to solve. But like, what can other clubs do to make the Jataya Taylors who are in their community, someone who has a desire to fence, and the skill that you've been able to expand and develop. How do they make their club another hub for parafencing and whatever random city in the US you want to pick?
[0:13:41] JT: I mean, the biggest thing is accessibility and making people feel welcome. As long as you have an accessible club and you let people know that an opportunity is there, then people will come. The hard thing about it is a lot of these programs people don't know about and don't know how to start them. So, the community doesn't know to reach out to them. They can be hard, because I heard people from some clubs that they're like, "I'm the only one here. The able-bodied really don't like to get in the chair."
I think one reason why it's so inclusive here is we do a lot of walk and rolls. So, people love getting in the chair there. They realize that it's a lot of work, and it's like, they're in fighting. They get to practice, they're in fighting, take the footwork out of it. So, sometimes they'll even use it as part of their regular training. That way we get different partners to fence with. So, it's helping club members recognize the benefit of having a para program. If you sprain your ankle, you can still fence, just hop in the chair. Yes, they're two different things, but we're all fencers.
[0:14:46] BW: So, a walk and roll. Can you explain that for those who maybe haven't heard of that concept? Because it's not something that probably everyone has experienced.
[0:14:55] JT: Right. So, walk and roll is, we'll have a local competition, and any of us parafencers can compete in any of our competitions. As soon as one of us sign up, it is considered a walk and roll event. Which means, when it's our turn to defense, the able-bodied person gets in the other chair and they fence us.
[0:15:15] BW: Got it.
[0:15:17] JT: So, it's a fully inclusive competition. It gives us a chance to fence people. It gives people a chance to learn and see what parafencing is about, and it creates inclusion.
[0:15:29] BW: Yes, I love that. I think the concept is brilliant. Like you said, it's actually not just about inclusion and ensuring that fencers who use wheelchairs are able to participate. It's also good for the able-bodied fencer and their skills too. So, it's not just a nice thing to do, it's also increasing their skills, which, I think that that speaks to what you were talking about.
So, can we talk about the mental side of fencing? This is something that when I got to interview some of the team that was headed to the Olympics, I like to chat about. So, would love to hear your perspective on how you sharpen your mental game. So, not just the strategies, but also, making sure you are mentally prepared for the challenge of fencing on the highest stage of the sport.
[0:16:15] JT: It's hilarious, because when I started fencing, I was all bronze. [Inaudible 0:16:19] game. It took a few people like Scott Rodgers, who trains here and he primarily is the one who trains with me. He beat that into me, because it's nothing like being considered more able bodied than him and getting the crap beat out of me by him by a beat. He's supposed to be more disabled.
[0:16:44] BW: Right. Well, he's the last American to win a medal in wheelchair fencing and parafencing. So, he's a good one to have as kind of someone to spar against, for sure. But anyway, go ahead. So, he helped introduce you to that aspect of it. Maybe not by choice initially.
[0:17:00] JT: No, because I was getting so frustrated that he was beating me. I'm stronger, then how the heck is this incomplete quadriplegic beating me? It took a while for me to calm down and focus. I have ADHD, the neurological issues cause problems with my vision. So, I realized that I really had to make myself slow down, learn the finesse of the game, that the chest part, or the active chest. I mean, it took a while, because when I first started fencing, they were just teaching me how to fence to get me going. We've had to literally go back and teach me all of the basics. I am not a fast learner by any means.
[0:17:41] BW: So, how does that translate into competition now. Those skills that you've learned when you go to a World Cup, and now, all of a sudden, you're against someone who is a multi-time World Cup medalist, who's maybe not – someone you're not as familiar with as Scott, who's your training partner. How do you take that into competition mode?
[0:18:03] JT: So, the great thing is, since I'm so new, I don't recognize when someone is that much better than me.
[0:18:11] BW: Oh, that's good. So, they're just another fencer.
[0:18:14] JT: Exactly. So, I don't get nervous. I don't think, "Oh, they're going to kick my butt." Sometimes, they will. I didn't even recognize when I was going on defense left-handed people, which changes the game, and I get my butt cut. So, my coaches would actually have to start telling me, "You're set up. You're going to be fencing lefty, lefty. So, you have to jump your game." Then, that's when I realized that I needed to slow down, basically start this checklist in my head and have this running narrative in my head. "You're too big, you need to slow down. What would Scott do?" And be like, "Oh, I just changed my blade. I had a heavy. Now, I have a medium, which is going to be flicky all over the place. Calm down. Settle your hand down." For me, it's an active conversation. I'm not even worried about the other fencer.
[0:19:03] BW: An active conversation. Can you explain what you mean by that?
[0:19:06] JT: So, with my ADHD, I will squirrel. If I catch something out of the side of my eye, or I will be watching the blade tip, which does no good, because it's faster than my eyes. Especially with my vision issues, it's sometimes blurry. So, I have to like, say, they just said, "Fence." So I'll be like, "Go back fast. What am I looking at? Pick my one point I'm staring at. All right, your blades up, take a deep breath, calm down, focus, relax your hand. Figure out what you're going to do. Okay, that's what I'm going to do. Attack. Okay." It's literally, I'm running through a checklist, a narrative, talking to myself. Because a lot of the bouts I lost, I don't even remember anything about that bout. And I will remember, usually some way through that I stopped talking to myself, and that's kind of when I lost the conversation, and everything just started going over my head. I'd get big, I would go back into my bad habits of trying to muscle up this one.
[0:20:06] BW: In a para fencing bout goes by so quickly too. It's like, I'm almost thinking like, how do you have time to have that conversation? Because the point happens so fast, and the sport is, it's the fastest of all the fencing disciplines by far, just because of how quickly points are scored. So, how do you slow it down when it's like, if you blink, you could be up five 0 or down five 0 in a 15-touch bout.
[0:20:33] JT: That is kind of what we've been working on, is recognizing. Before it gets too late, you need to change. So, it's one of those things that the conversation in my head starts before they say fence. When I'm getting en garde, in position, I start running through my head, "Am I going to attack? Am I going to go back?" Then, that's kind of when the conversation starts. So, sometimes I can get far enough back that they can't reach me, and it gives me time to sit and think. I got 15 seconds to sit back and think. Other times, you can't, and that's kind of where I'm still learning the natural reactions. I don't necessarily have those good natural reactions. So, not having the time to think can make me make mistakes.
[0:21:19] BW: Yes. It's so interesting, fencing in general. I was never a fencer, but just the idea that you've got to be kind of a quarterback going up to the line of scrimmage, and you've got one play in your mind that you want to try. But then, you see something that changes your strategy. So, you have to just be constantly playing that mental chess. I mean, we say it again and again, but it's so true. It's just – I don't even know how you practice for that and getting ready for all the different styles that you're going to see. But I imagine, it's just one of those things where you got to do it. You just have to experience it.
[0:21:49] JT: Yes. I mean, and that is just it, the experience. A lot of the people that I'll be fencing, they're so high up in the rankings that I have not fenced them yet. So, all we could do is review videos. The people I fence, a lot of them don't fence like the female fencers, but it still allows me to work on my speed. Because able-bodied, they can move faster once they get used to the chair. So, it's a different kind of fencing, but it allows you to prepare, get used to changing the way you fence. Because when you can fence a lot of people, you pick up their own things quicker.
[0:22:29] BW: Right. So, when you're doing video analysis, let's talk about that a little bit. Do you have a notebook that you take notes in, or some type of way of remembering that? Or is it more just collecting a feeling from what you're seeing, and storing that away in the mental folders?
[0:22:44] JT: So, sometimes I will write because I have a horrible memory. Other times, going through it, it's not necessarily about remembering what I'm seeing. It's about recognizing what they're doing and what I usually do to react to that. Because I still am learning all the terminology, especially when I'm reviewing with Scott, he'll use the terminology and I'll look him like, "What?" He would say it three or four different times until I get it. It's hard to coach from the sideline when your fencer doesn't know the terminology.
[0:23:17] BW: Yes. You have to learn a whole new language, which makes it even more remarkable, just your rapid ascent in the sport, which actually brings me to an interesting point I wanted to ask you about, which is like, what's been the reaction of your friends and family when – I assume, at some point, you told them, "Hey, I'm trying this fencing thing" back in 2022, and then here you are, two years later, you're going to be in Paris at the Paralympics, representing Team USA. What's been the reaction?
[0:23:48] JT: I mean, they're all proud. A lot of them were like, "We knew this was coming. We just didn't know which sport it would be in." After my injury, that was kind of one of my goals, is going to the Paralympics. So, I had to focus on my recovery. So, I went through so many sports. I was trying to figure out what sport fit my disability and my abilities. It's funny, because in high school, I was voted most likely to be on boxing.
[0:24:21] BW: That is funny.
[0:24:23] JT: Yes. So, it's just kind of one of those things. Everyone knew it was coming. We are just really surprised it came so fast.
[0:24:29] BW: Yes. So, the moment when you're rolling on to the piece at the Grand Palais. Who helped get you there, when you – maybe it probably won't be in that moment knowing that you know you'll be getting ready to compete. But when you look back, who was instrumental on your journey, that you maybe want to thank or give some props to?
[0:24:50] JT: Definitely the VA rec therapy program. So that means, all the taxpayers, because you fund that, and that actually, I hadn't worked in 12 years, so started fencing mean, I had to start working again. So, it's a full healing process. The Denver Fencing Center, all the fencers have been great. Nathan, the owner, Haley, the Para coach. Chris, one of our other coaches. He was the first coach I ever had when I came with the VA. So, he's the one who got me started. Then, of course, Scott, because he had the brunt of it, trying to learn how to speak my language. He's a really smart person, and he had to figure out how to dumb it down, and use the words that I would remember and understand. Then, Eric, our national coach. Then, of course, Julio was the national coach when I started. I mean, without all of them, because they had to put a lot more work into me than others. So, I paid them for their patience.
[0:25:49] BW: So, you've been representing Team USA at World Cups and everything. So, you've worn the stars and stripes. But what's it going to mean to do that at the Paralympics when the spotlight is at its brightest?
[0:26:02] JT: So, I always wanted to be in the military. My father was military, I have other family members in military. The military supposed to be my career. I was supposed to serve my country and that dream was shattered. So, I see this as another way to serve my country, represent my country. So, it kind of fulfills something that was stolen from me when I was injured. This is my opportunity to have that same feeling, I guess you could say.
[0:26:30] BW: Yes, that's really powerful. We're just really excited to cheer you on. But before we let you go, what about the all the other aspects of going to the Paralympics. Being in the village, meeting other athletes, seeing other sports. What's on your kind of Paris bucket list, something you want to make sure you do before the Paralympics or your journey's over?
[0:26:53] JT: Honestly, I have been just so focused head straight, just thinking about fencing. I haven't even – the only thing I've considered about being over there is all the stories about the food, and I'm very food motivated. So, it's just enjoying myself and enjoying the experience in general. I don't want to let myself get too crazy. I want to keep my focus. But this is also – it is what it is. I've been fencing, I will have been fencing for two years when I get there. I'm not trying to put a ton of pressure on me. Yes, I'm going to try to win, but I'm also going to enjoy myself in the experience. So, I think it's just being there itself is going to be the experience.
[0:27:38] BW: Yes, it's going to be amazing. How about the fact that you'll be able to share that experience with five of your teammates? In Tokyo, we had a team of three, Ellen, Shelby and Terry. So, now we've doubled that in those three years, we being Team USA. So, it's got to be pretty fulfilling to know you're going to be going with five other great athletes and great people.
[0:28:03] JT: Yes. Knowing, especially on the women's side, it took that whole team to get me where I'm at. The place would be that much more special to be there together. On the guys' side, they're all supportive, and it's just awesome to think that we're all going to be doing what we love together.
[0:28:20] BW: Yes. It's going to make it all that much better. I mean, fencing is such an individual sport. It's just you out there. But when you do have a support system and a team behind you, it enhances it. It has to, right? So, finally, what do you hope that someone watching you in Paris, and in your journey to Paris, what do you hope they take away from cheering you on and your experience?
[0:28:47] JT: Live life. Don't be afraid to fail, because if I was afraid to fail, I would not have made it as far as I have. But I also missed out on a lot because of that. So, get out and try something new. If you see it, and you want to try it, don't be afraid to. Live life, because you never know when it's going to be gone. This trip is going to be even more special, because we lost one of our fencers, Terry, earlier this year. So, I'll be fencing for him, just thinking about him and us having to share our lefty chair when we started is integral to when I started. Because we fenced together a lot once I got a chair that we could both fence. So, this is for him.
[0:29:30] BW: Yes. You've got a whole team in your corner, and everybody in USA fencing cheering you on. So, we can't wait to watch you compete in Paris, and hope you have a great time. Definitely try to get one of those chocolate muffins that I was hearing about. That's all the rage there, apparently, in the village. So, enjoy, safe travels, and can't wait to catch up with you when you get back.
[0:29:52] JT: Thank you.
[0:29:53] BW: Thank you.
[END OF INTERVIEW]
[0:29:54] BW: Thanks for listening to First to 15, the official podcast of USA Fencing. We'll be back with our next conversation in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, you can stay up to date on all the latest fencing news by following us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. If you liked this podcast, please help us grow and reach more people by leaving us a rating or review. Until next time, I'm Bryan Wendell, and I hope to see you real soon out on the strip. Bye.
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