Join the journey to the Pan Am Games and beyond!
Hello,
My name is Marissa Ponich and I am a Team Canada fencing athlete in the home stretch to Paris 2024. As many of you are aware, I need to travel a lot every season (often to over 10 countries per year). I have to pay for these expenses myself, which is why I also work a full time job. I train 6 days per week anywhere from 3 to 5 hours per day.
I'm running this campaign for two reasons:
1. To fund my trip to the Pan Am Games in Santiago, Chile. I have already qualified and will be fencing the team event there. I leave October 27th!
2. To help fund the rest of the Olympic qualification period. I will be travelling to 4 World Cups and 2 Grand Prixs before the qualification ends in March 2024:
Algiers, Algeria (World Cup - leaving directly from the Pan Am Games) - November 9-12, 2023
Orleans, France (Grand Prix) - December 8-10, 2023
Lima, Peru (World Cup) - February 9-11, 2024
Athens, Greece (World Cup) - March 1-3, 2024
TBD (Training Camp) - March 4-14, 2024
Sint-Niklaas, Belgium (World Cup) - March 15-17, 2024
This season I am going to leave it all out on the piste. No regrets. I am going to put my head down, focus on me, and do my best. After that, whatever happens, happens, but I will know I did everything I could and went as far as I could. At the end of the day, that's all I can ask for. I believe in myself. I know I am capable of great things. Now it's time to do it!
I've been on the National Team for 10 years now. Looking back, I have accomplished some pretty amazing things. I'm not done yet! Let's see what I can do during this last stretch to the 2024 Olympics!
I am incredibly grateful for all the support throughout the years... I'm touched by how many people are there for me through the ups and downs and who are constantly cheering for me. I don't know what I did to deserve all of it, but from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Please help me in this last stretch. Ways to help:
-contribute even $5 (every bit helps)
-share the campaign and help me spread the word
-if you have any rewards you can contribute that I can give away, send me a message and let me know (massages, jewelry, merchandise, gift cards, etc.)
-put me in contact with a company you think might be willing to sponsor me (honestly, I've always wanted to be sponsored by a fencing company... like the kind that makes and/or puts up fences hahaha)
-subscribe to my updates and continue to send your positive energy my way!
Thank you again! Together, I know we can do this!
P.S. If you haven't already, please watch the video at the top by clicking the picture. Again, thank you to Richard Skura of Capsure Photography for all the photos and video!! Amazing job as always.
Hi! My name is Marissa Ponich and I am one of the top women's sabre fencers in Canada. I have been a national team member since 2013 (the same year I started fencing internationally). I started fencing at the late age of 19. I train at Sergei’s Sabre Club with Sergei Kazimirski and he’s been my coach since I started fencing in 2006. I have grown quickly and I am continuing to grow in this sport because it is a serious passion of mine.
