CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Fencing will be well represented on the international stage as current student-athletes, alumni, and coaches compete at the 2026 World Fencing Championships, held July 22-30 in Hong Kong.
Five Crimson fencers will represent the United States and Canada across three weapon disciplines, while two Harvard coaches will serve on the sidelines with their respective national teams.
Olympian and rising junior Colin Heathcock '28 will compete for Team USA in the men's saber competition. Heathcock begins individual pool play on July 24, with the individual final scheduled for July 27. Heathcock is coming off an impressive showing at the Zonal championships earlier this Summer, where he captured the Silver Medal in the Men's Saber competition, posting a 6-0 pool record and a +22-touch indicator. Heathcock also took home a gold medal after helping Team USA's men's saber squad win the team event.
The women's foil field features three members of the Harvard program. Olympian Lauren Scruggs '25 will represent Team USA, while Olympian and current senior Jessica Guo '27 along with her sophomore teammate Lucia Zhang '29 will compete for Team Canada. Additionally, Guo was elected as the Team Captain for the Canadian group ahead of the Chmpionships. Individual pool bouts begin on July 24, with the championship final taking place on July 27. The trio also showed out at Zonals last month, with Scruggs earning a gold medal in the team event and a bronze medal in the individual portion. Lucia Zhang finished in sixth place and Guo came in ninth individually.
In women's saber, incoming first year Julie Xiao '30 will represent Team Canada. Xiao opens competition with individual pool play on July 23, and the individual final is slated for July 26. Xiao was also in action at Zonals for Team Canada.
Harvard's presence extends beyond the competition strips as two Crimson coaches will serve on the coaching staffs of their national teams. Dagmara Wozniak – a recent USA Fencing Hall of Fame inductee - will coach Team USA's women's squad, while Jed Dupree will serve as a coach for Team Canada's men's team.
The World Fencing Championships annually bring together the world's top athletes to compete for individual and team world titles, providing one of the sport's premier international competitions.
Harvard Schedule at the 2026 World Fencing Championships
Thursday, July 23
Women's Saber Individual Pools
Julie Xiao (Team Canada)
Friday, July 24
Men's Saber Individual Pools
Colin Heathcock (Team USA)
Women's Foil Individual Pools
Lauren Scruggs (Team USA)
Jessica Guo (Team Canada)
Lucia Zhang (Team Canada)
Saturday, July 26
Women's Saber Individual Final
Sunday, July 27
Men's Saber Individual Final
Women's Foil Individual Final
