Sunday, November 15, 2026
For East Meadow siblings Amelie and Aaron Cao, fencing has become more than an extracurricular activity. In just a few years, the two have developed into nationally recognized competitors, earning bronze medals at major competitions and establishing themselves among the country's top fencers in their respective age groups.
Amelie, 15, a sophomore at East Meadow High School, recently placed third among 70 competitors in the Division I Challenger women's foil event at the October North American Cup, earning a national bronze medal. She also achieved an A rating, fencing's highest competitive classification, on Oct. 14.
She currently ranks No. 53 nationally in the cadet women's foil unified rankings and was named to USA Fencing's 2025-26 High School All-American First Team.
Her younger brother, Aaron, 11, a sixth-grader at Woodland Middle School, also earned a national bronze medal, finishing third among 146 competitors in the Y10 men's foil division at the USA Fencing Summer National Championships in Salt Lake City in July. He holds a D rating and ranks No. 18 nationally in the Y12 men's foil rankings.
Both siblings also received season-ending regional honors from USA Fencing, recognizing their performances throughout the previous competitive season.
Their accomplishments are particularly notable considering their relatively short time in the sport. The siblings first began fencing in September 2022 after their parents, who knew little about the sport, spotted an advertisement in Flushing, Queens.
“We just saw an ad on the street in Flushing, and then we thought this looks interesting, so we just let the two kids try out,” their father, Yang Cao, said. “They immediately just loved it.”
The siblings initially trained at Future Star Fencing Club in Queens before joining 5T Fencers Club in Mineola in February 2024, where they began working with head coach Jonathan Tiomkin.
Tiomkin, who founded 5T Fencers Club in 2004 after competing at the Olympics, said his approach to coaching emphasizes making the sport a positive experience and helping young athletes develop confidence, discipline, work ethic and mental strength.
“The number one thing is the sport needs to be enjoyable,” he said. “It needs to be something that adds to their life.”
He also credited the Cao family for consistently supporting the siblings through both successful competitions and more difficult moments.
Tiomkin said both siblings demonstrated natural athleticism when they began training at the club, particularly their speed, explosiveness and ability to anticipate their opponents' movements.
“They have a natural feel for tactics. They have a natural feel for their opponent's moves,” Tiomkin said.
Although they share a passion for the sport, Tiomkin said the siblings bring different qualities to the fencing strip. Both are aggressive competitors who enjoy attacking, but Aaron is particularly tenacious, while Amelie becomes especially formidable when her adrenaline kicks in.
“They're both tough kids,” he said.
Their four-year age difference has not stopped them from becoming one another's biggest supporters. Cao said Amelie often helps Aaron during competitions, while Aaron looks up to his older sister and uses her accomplishments as motivation.
“They help each other, but also compete with each other,” Cao said.
The family's support extends beyond competition days. Cao said they regularly record the siblings' bouts so they can review their performances, identify mistakes and learn from them. Aaron also takes notes on his competitions as part of his effort to improve.
