Katrina Lehis

Katrina Lehis, born on December 19, 1994, in Haapsalu, Estonia, embarked on her fencing journey in 2004. Her initial exposure to the sport came through her sister, who was already a fencer. A coach recognized Lehis’ natural aptitude for the sport, noting her height and left-handedness, and encouraged her to participate. She quickly demonstrated talent, leading to her inclusion in the Estonian Junior and Cadet fencing teams by 2009. Her early career highlights include winning an individual gold medal at the Junior World Fencing Championships in 2014, the same year she was recognized as the Estonian Student Athlete of the Year. Her dedication and early achievements set the stage for a distinguished career in international fencing.

Lehis’ career saw significant progression on the international stage between 2015 and 2021. In 2015, she earned team épée silver medals at both the European Fencing Championships and the European Games. Her individual prowess was further cemented in 2018 when she secured the individual gold at the European Fencing Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia. She was consistently named Female Fencer of the Year by the Estonian Fencing Federation in 2018, 2019, and 2020. A pivotal moment in her career occurred at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, where she made history by becoming the first fencer from Estonia to win an Olympic medal, securing an individual bronze. This was followed by a team gold medal in épée alongside Julia Beljajeva, Irina Embrich, and Erika Kirpu, marking Estonia’s first Olympic fencing gold. These achievements were recognized with the Order of the White Star 2nd class in 2022 and the Best Female Multiple Athlete Event of Tokyo 2020 prize at the 2021 ANOC Awards.

Following her Olympic success, Lehis faced a challenge in July 2022 when she sustained a right knee injury, requiring surgery. Despite this setback, she returned to competition in April 2023, demonstrating resilience. Throughout her career, Lehis has consistently delivered notable results in various World Cup and Grand Prix events, including a Grand Prix gold in Doha (2022) and multiple World Cup medals. Her career is marked by a steady accumulation of significant medals and accolades at the highest levels of competitive fencing, solidifying her status as a leading figure in the sport.