Daryl Homer

Event: Saber
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 155 lbs
Birthplace: St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
Current Residence: New York City, N.Y.
Education: Senior marketing major at St. John's University
Club: Manhattan Fencing Center
Coach: Yury Gelman
Most people would be surprised to know that... I am shy. At home I'm either out with my close friends, staying in with my girlfriend, or spending time alone. I would say I'm no where as extroverted as a lot of people would believe. Also I am a bit of a mother's boy.
Hobbies and interests: Advertising (my major in school), photography, motivational books, life success stories
Current U.S. Ranking: #1
Current World Ranking: #14

Olympic Teams: 2012
Senior World Championship Teams: 2011, 2010, 2009
Junior World Championship Teams: 2010 (Bronze - Team), 2009 (Bronze - Individual), 2008
Cadet World Championship Teams: 2007 (Bronze)

Personal: Homer read about fencing in a dictionary when he was 5-years-old and says he begged his mother to let him take up the sport. Homer's mother, Juliette Smith, looked up fencing clubs in the phone book and found the New York Fencer's Club. The family showed up to practice on a Saturday, met six-time Olympian Peter Westbrook -- founder of the Peter Westbrook Foundation -- and started to fence for the club. A two-time Junior World medalist, Homer finished 12th at his first Senior World Championships in 2010 and credits fencing with opening a new life to him. Homer says he has met people from all over the world, made many new friends and interacted with so many cultures. "I am thankful that I have been able to succeed in both fencing, and gain memorable experiences from it. I don't know too many other people who could say they explored Europe with their closest friends as teenagers," Homer said. "Fencing has shaped the way I think about life. It has allowed me to learn dedication, focus and provided me with a formula capable of working in all sectors of my life. I would say that in the group of fencers I started with that I wasn't the best. I have to thank my coach for continuously working with me and motivating me despite my lackluster results as a youth."

Homer says he loves to cook, but also enjoys eating at different ethnic restaurants. Homer also is a huge fan of music and says that he has a huge variety of music on his iPod. Homer enjoys spending time with family and friends when he's not concentrating on his studies. Homer also loves shopping and lists his favorite stores as Diesel, J. Crew and Ben Sherman.

Recent Competition History

2012:

Bronze - USA Fencing National Championships (Division I Team)
Bronze - Moscow World Cup (Team)
Seventh - Moscow World Cup (Individual)
Ninth - USA Fencing National Championships (Division I Individual)
Ninth - Padua Saber World Cup (Team)
14th - Plovdiv Saber Grand Prix
17th - January North American Cup (Division I)
17th - Padua Saber World Cup (Individual)
19th - Budapest Grand Prix

2011:

Gold - Pan American Championships (Individual)
Gold - Pan American Championships (Team)
Gold - December North American Cup (Division I)
Silver - USA Fencing National Championships (Division I)
Fifth - North American Cup C (Division I)
Eighth - Senior World Championships (Team)
Eighth - Athens World Cup (Team)
13th - Warsaw Grand Prix
13th - New York World Cup (Team)
31st - Athens World Cup (Individual)
32nd - New York World Cup (Individual)
34th - Senior World Championships (Individual)

2010:

Gold - North American Cup F (Division I)
Silver - Dormagen Junior World Cup
Bronze - Junior World Championships (Team)
Bronze - North American Cup A (Division I)
Seventh - Junior World Championships (Individual)
Eighth - New York World Cup
12th - Senior World Championships (Individual)
13th - Senior World Championships (Team)

2009:

Bronze - Junior World Championships (Individual)
Seventh - Junior World Championships (Team)
Seventh - Senior World Championships (Team)
Seventh - Budapest Junior World Cup
15th - Polovdiv Grand Prix
23rd - Senior World Championships (Individual)

2008:

Fourth - Junior World Championships (Team)
Fifth - Sosnowiec Junior World Cup
28th - Junior World Championships (Individual)

What is your motivation?
To be the best and win an Olympic gold medal.

Who has influenced your fencing career and how?
Keith Smart's work ethic. He was truly one of the best in the world and I aspire to do the same.

What are some of the biggest hurdles / challenges you've had to overcome in your fencing career?
I am small for a sabre fencer, but I make up for it with my speed.

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?
I am very interested in photography.

Special Interest / Hobbies: Photography