Gemma Collis

Started: She took up the sport at age 19 while studying at Durham University in England. (Athlete, 22 Apr 2012) Reason: Hungarian fencing coach Laszlo Jakab recruited her to the sport after watching her play wheelchair basketball at Durham University in England. "[Durham] wasn't originally a university I wanted to go to because it was too far away from my parents. But I could not have made a better choice for my life. I remember Laszlo Jakab came up to me and asked if I wanted to give fencing a try. I thought, 'Who is this weird old man?' It just seemed so random. I sat in the chair, sword in hand. It was so fast! I could tell it was a sport about outwitting the opponent, laying traps. I loved the speed of it, the aggression and how highly competitive it is. I got the bug for it immediately." (britishfencing.com, 28 Dec 2023; palatinate.org.uk, 17 Jun 2021; Athlete, 22 Apr 2012) Ambition: To win a medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (britishfencing.com, 28 Dec 2023) Awards: She was a torch bearer during the relays ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games in London and the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi. (LinkedIn profile, 05 Nov 2023; insidethegames.biz, 11 Apr 2014) Additional Info: OTHER ACTIVITIES She has served on the International Wheelchair Fencing Athletes' Council. She was also one of the founding members of the International Wheelchair Fencing Gender Equity Commission. (X profile, 29 Feb 2024; LinkedIn profile, 05 Nov 2023; British Fencing Facebook page, 18 Oct 2023; palatinate.org.uk, 17 Jun 2021) OCCUPATION She has worked as a sports journalist for the BBC in Great Britain. (Instagram profile, 01 Jan 2024; LinkedIn profile, 05 Nov 2023)