Greenhead College Student Making Remarkable Strides in the World of Fencing
02 June 2026Greenhead College student Maiya is making remarkable strides in the world of fencing, successfully balancing her academic studies with a rapidly developing international sporting career.
Maiya began fencing at the age of 11 after being inspired by her best friend in primary school. Although she also trained in ballet during her early years, it quickly became clear that her talent lay in fencing, where she has continued to excel ever since.
Now studying A Levels in Modern History, Economics and Psychology at Greenhead, Maiya demonstrates an impressive ability to balance demanding academic work with elite-level sport.
Alongside her studies, she is also working towards a DiSE (Diploma in Sporting Excellence) qualification, a prestigious two-year programme running from July 2025 to July 2027. This qualification is designed to support talented young athletes in combining full-time education with high-performance training and is equivalent to 64 UCAS points, providing a strong foundation for university applications.
Maiya has been representing Great Britain since 2023 at both Under-17 and Under-20 levels. Her international experience continues to grow, having competed in the FIE (International Fencing Federation) Satellite competition in Ghent in September 2025 – her first senior-level event.
Despite not placing, Maiya described the experience as:
“The FIE Satellite competition was both hard and intense, but I learnt so much from the experience.”
Maiya went on to compete in Junior World Cups in Hammamet, Tunisia, and Budapest, Hungary, in November and December 2025 respectively, gaining further exposure to top-level competition.
Her commitment to the sport is clear through her training schedule. Maiya trains three times a week, travelling to South Manchester for two-hour sessions each time, alongside twice-monthly training sessions in London. In addition, she attends monthly sports psychology sessions, which she credits with helping her manage nerves and maintain composure during competition.
Maiya is also part of the University of Nottingham GBR Athlete Development programme, which offers high-performance training opportunities and supports her progression within the national fencing pathway.
As well as individual competition, Maiya thrives in team fencing events. Competing in teams of three or four, athletes fence in rotation up to a total of 45 points, switching every five points. She particularly enjoys the intensity and camaraderie of this format and has even taken on a leadership role as a team captain, further developing her confidence and communication skills.
Through fencing, Maiya has formed strong friendships with teammates across the country and internationally. She describes the social aspect of competitions – especially team dinners after events – as one of her favourite parts of the sport, helping to build lasting bonds.
Looking to the future, Maiya is determined to continue her journey with Team GB after College. She is currently considering two exciting pathways: competing in NCAA Division 1 fencing in the United States, having already been scouted, or continuing her studies and training at a UK or London-based university.
With a clear sense of ambition, Maiya has set her sights firmly on the Olympic Games, with the goal of competing at the 2032 Olympics.
Everyone at Greenhead wishes Maiya continued success as she pursues her dreams on the international stage.
