Liz Kocab, a member of USA Fencing who is transgender, has won her eighth world fencing title

Liz Kocab, a transgender female member of USA Fencing, recently secured her eighth world fencing title. Kocab clinched this title in the women's 70+ division at the Veteran Fencing World Championships by defeating 14-time world champion Marja-Liisa Someroja of Finland. Kocab has now won world championships in three different age categories, 50's, 60's, and 70+.

Kocab’s victory was received with mixed emotions from the public and detractors voicing their thoughts on social media. She told USA Fencing that she has considered walking away from the sport in the past.

“I thought that it is important to support the USA and this is my way of saying thanks to USA Fencing,” Kocab said.

This title marks Kocab's fourth consecutive Vet Worlds individual championship, with wins in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023. The Vet Worlds were canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

After winning gold, the 71-year-old then shifted her focus to compete in the team event with her Women's Epee fencer teammates on the last day of the Vet Worlds event. The top two finishers from each country's age 50s, 60s and 70+ categories moved on to the opportunity to compete for the gold medal in the team event.

“There is the pressure of not wanting to let your teammates down," Kocab told USA Fencing. “So, hopefully with a little bit of luck or a lot of luck, we’ll be victorious."

Although Kocab and her fellow USA Fencers did not win the gold medal in the 70+ team event, Team USA’s 2023 Veteran World Team set a new record by winning a total of 24 medals, including 13 golds overall for the event.