Natalia Sheppard began fencing at the age of nine; however she took a nine year break between the ages of 17 and 26.
Training six days a week - a combination of running, fencing, spinning, strength and conditioning - Sheppard is one of only two fencers who actually qualified for the London Games this year, with the other five having been awarded host-nation spots.
Ranked 51st in the world and having competed in her first senior international major event in 2009, the Polish-born hopeful is now set for her first Olympic Games this summer.At the European Championships in recent years, Sheppard's performances have improved. In 2010, she finished in 33rd position but last year she ended in 23rd spot.In Grand Prix and World Cup events, the top 50 has been where Sheppard has often found herself. In 2010, she came 27th at the Grand Prix in St Petersburg and finished in 42nd spot at the World Cup in Turin in 2011.
Sheppard has been going from strength-to-strength and with her place on Team GB for the summer, she is certainly one to keep an eye on in the ExCeL Arena when the competition begins.
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