Wonder Woman of the Week: Nicole Ross
The Wonder Woman this week is one of the lesser known greats of American fencing. Nicole Ross has been a major factor in the growth of the sport in the United States, not only because of her record as a competitor, but also as a supporter of programs getting more women and girls active in the sport as well as being a collegiate fencing coach. Ross was born in 1989 in New York City- a major hub for the sport in the United States- and started fencing at age nine after falling in love with The Princess Bride. Ross competed for Columbia University in the NCAA in college where she began making a name for herself in a sport that still limited women's participation in the Olympics (as women's were only permitted to compete in two of the three categories of the sport at the Olympics).
Nicole Ross didn't stop at NCAA athletics either. Ross would compete at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and would only grow from there. Between 2012 to 2020, Ross has earned medals in three World Championships (silver 2017, gold 2018, and bronze 2019- all in the team event), and three PanAmerican Games (bronze in 2015's individual event and silver in 2015's team event as well as gold in 2019's team event). Ross would also become a major force of leadership in USA Fencing as a captain of the women's foil team and a veteran of the sport many of her peers look to for guidance. In 2017, Ross assumed a coaching position at Cornell University alongside fellow US Olympic fencer Daria Schnyder, and in 2020 began working with teammate (and Wonder Woman of the Week alum) Nzingha Prescod to teach fencing outdoor fencing lessons to young women and girls in New York City parks.
Nicole Ross is one of those figures of sports history that definitely does not get the credit she deserves. Not only is she a medal earning athlete, but a major figure of leadership for her peers. Ross has earned even more medals throughout her athletic career in collegiate competitions and international tournaments. Ross is also a major figure in the sport as a coach and instructor- teaching lessons at one of the top fencing schools in the world- New York Fencers Club- and as a university coach at Cornell. Apart from all of that, she is a major supporter and active participant in increasing the number of women and girls joining the sport in the United States.
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