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Celebrating Fencing Excellence in Miami: Adriana Ferreira de Melo '28

Carrollton’s own Adriana Ferreira de Melo '28, the Pan-American fencing champion, recognized by Miami Mayor, Francis Suarez.
  • Athletics
  • Upper School

In a special ceremony this week, Miami’s Mayor, Francis Suarez, presented official recognition to Carrollton’s own Adriana Ferreira de Melo '28, the Pan-American fencing champion, alongside Yannick Borel and Alexandra Louis-Maria, Olympic silver medalists, for their outstanding achievements and contributions to fencing.

Mayor Suarez emphasized Adriana’s love for the sport and her taking significant steps to nurture it in her community. She started fencing at the age of six, has earned over 120 medals, and garnered numerous local, regional, national, and international accolades. As a high school freshman, she became a Certified USA Fencing Junior Coach and a USA Fencing Referee. 

Adriana’s drive to promote fencing, leadership, and passion for the sport has already started to build a strong foundation. This year, she launched Carrollton’s first-ever fencing club, already positioning Carrollton as a rising force in the fencing community. Yannick and Alexandra with the Miami Fencing Academy visited Carrollton’s fencing club members at one of their practices recently, offering strategic and motivational tips to the team.

Yannick is a two-time Olympian, winning gold in the 2016 games in Rio and silver in the 2024 games in Paris. When the girls shared their excitement mixed with nervousness about their first competition against boys at the end of October, he gave them encouraging and inspiring advice.

“Once you put the mask on, gender does not matter.” 

As Miami’s sports culture flourishes, the efforts of Adriana ’28 and the support from figures like Yannick Borel and Alexandra Louis-Marie ensure that the sport of fencing will continue to grow and thrive, both at Carrollton and beyond. We wish Adriana luck next month as she represents the USA Fencing Cadet Designated Team in Budapest, Hungary.

Learn more about Yannick Borel

Learn more about Alexandra Louis-Marie