From Rickmansworth to Rio: RMS Sisters Take on the World

Two members of the RMS community – current Sixth Former Katie and Class of 2024 alumna Issie – have been selected to represent Great Britain at the Cadet and Junior Fencing World Championships in Rio, Brazil.

Competing from 1 – 9 April 2026, the girls have reached the pinnacle of youth fencing. With only the top 3-4 fencers in each country selected for these categories, their inclusion is a remarkable achievement.

We caught up with Katie and Issie to hear about how they are feeling about the upcoming World Championships.

For Katie, the journey didn’t start with dreams of world rankings, but with family. “I started fencing because my siblings all did it and it looked like fun,” she recalls. That sense of fun clearly fuelled a fierce talent; Katie is now the UK’s #1 ranked Cadet.

Though they compete in different categories – Katie in Cadet (U17) Women’s Foil and Issie in Junior (U20) Women’s Foil – the bond they share is one of support rather than rivalry.

“We compete in different age groups so we are not actually competitors,” Katie explains, “which means we can watch and support each other. It’s really special to be able to share experiences like this together, especially on an international stage.”

Key Tournament Details

Katie in action (l) and competing in Georgia in 2026 (r).

Being ranked UK #1 Cadet is a heavy mantle to carry, but Katie credits the grounding environment of RMS for keeping her focused. Despite a rigorous schedule training four times a week at Fencers Club London (FCL), she finds her reset button in the classroom.

“The normal routine at school of being in lessons and seeing friends really helps me switch off from the pressure of competition,” Katie says. She also notes that having the elite FCL facility right here on the RMS campus is a “huge advantage,” allowing her to balance her A-level studies without the added stress of a long commute to training.

Now studying Business at Loughborough University, Issie reflects on how her time at RMS prepared her for life as an elite student-athlete.

“It wasn’t easy to balance my passion for fencing with my A-levels,” Issie admits. “I had to divide my time very carefully. But I managed to get the balance right and achieve the grades I needed for university.”

• Junior And Cadet Fencing World Championships! Wuxi2025 12 April 06 day Junior Team Foil In photo: GBR Photo Eva Pavia #bizziteam

Issie in action at the Worlds in 2025.

The pull of the RMS community remains strong; Issie still returns to the school grounds once a week to train with her world-class FCL coaches, maintaining the consistency that keeps her at the top of the GB rankings.

Both girls highlighted the encouragement they’ve received from the RMS staff, particularly Mr Carson, who has followed their progress closely over the years.

As they prepare to face the world’s best in Brazil, the girls are most excited about the honour of the GB vest. “More than anything, it is a huge honour to represent GB internationally,” says Issie. “We are looking forward to facing the world’s best.”

We wish Issie and Katie the very best of luck in Rio! We will be following their progress closely.