How to Qualify for Junior Olympics
The Cadet (U17) and Junior (U20) paths to the Junior Olympic Fencing Championships, held annually in February.
Junior Olympics — JOs to most people — is the biggest annual stop for Cadet and Junior fencers in the U.S. It's also a Cadet/Junior World Championships selection event, so strong results here open the international door as well. Qualification runs through regional points, division qualifiers, or being on the national point standings.
- JOs run each February with Cadet (U17) and Junior (U20) individual + team events in all six weapons.
- You qualify by being on the relevant national rolling point standings, hitting 120 regional points, placing top 25% at your division JO qualifier, or top 40% at a Cadet/Junior IRC abroad.
- Cadets can also qualify through the Junior JO division qualifier if it's held first.
- Junior fencers younger than 13 must be on the Cadet NRPS at the deadline to be eligible.
- To actually compete you need a Competitive Member and to be eligible to represent the USA.
- On Cadet NRPS
- 120+ Cadet or Junior regional points
- Top 25% division Cadet qualifier
- Top 25% division Junior qualifier (if Junior held first)
- Top 40% Cadet IRC / ISC
- On Junior NRPS
- 120+ Junior regional points
- Top 25% division Junior qualifier
- Top 40% Junior IRC
Cadet (under 17)
Any one of the following gets you in: on the Cadet National Rolling Point Standings at the Qualification Deadline, 120+ regional points on either the Cadet or Junior regional standings (your top two results summed), top 25% of your division's Cadet JO qualifying competition, top 25% of your division's Junior JO qualifying competition if it was held first, or top 40% at a Cadet IRC or ISC abroad. Epee has a Modern Pentathlon path for the top 3 on those standings.
Junior (under 20)
Same idea, Junior version: on the Junior NRPS, 120+ Junior regional points (top two results summed), top 25% of your division's Junior JO qualifying competition, or top 40% at a Junior IRC. Modern Pentathlon epee path applies here too.
What about team events?
The JO team event is a Championship event. Any three or four fencers who meet the age and gender requirements can enter a team, but all rostered fencers must be Competitive USA Fencing members and U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents. Seeding is based on the team members' Junior or Cadet NRPS and ratings as of the day before the competition.
Where to track your status
USAF publishes the Cadet and Junior National Rolling Point Standings on the member portal, updated within days of each scoring event. Division qualifier dates are set by your local division — check your division's website (linked from the USAF division directory) or ask your coach.