NEW YORK — En garde. Step, recover, step – retreat. En garde. Step, recover, step – retreat.
As the end of June nears in midtown Manhattan, young fencers line up against the acclaimed Fencers Club’s white walls garnished with posters of Olympians.
Standing alert in the center is a 21-year-old woman adorned in Columbia University’s powder blue. She is more attentive than the rest, her positioning more complete. Her presence is large and dominant.
She wants you to know her name – Iman Blow.
As the group practices on the silver grated strips that cover the expansive room, Blow sets herself apart.