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Your support sends Daniel to Penn State University, one of America's top NCAA Division I fencing programs, and a step closer to the Olympics.

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Daniel&#39;s storyIn 2018, Ms Bain, Daniel&#39;s Scottish-born Year 5 teacher at his public primary school, had an idea: try fencing for Friday sport. Three days later, Daniel, aged ten, became the newest member of Marrickville Marauders, a grassroots fencing club in Sydney&#39;s Inner West. Eight years on, he is an eight-time National Champion and seven-time international medallist, and has been recruited to Penn State University as a member of its NCAA Division I fencing team. This year he moves to the United States, remaining a member of the Australian Men&#39;s National Sabre Team. In 2032, he plans to compete at the Brisbane Olympics. Daniel has been a member of the Australian Men&#39;s Sabre Team since he was 13. He was 13 in Dubai, 14 in Uzbekistan, 15 in London, 16 in Riyadh, 17 in Wuxi and 18 in Rio de Janeiro. World, Zonal and Commonwealth Championships. He has tried to meet every opportunity with curiosity, visiting mosques, skyscrapers and museums, eating the food. The places he has travelled and the competitions he has taken part in have represented both a growth in his fencing and, more broadly, steps to understanding the cultural, political, social, economic and religious perspectives of the world. &#39;Daniel has incredible physical conditions to dominate fencing. His commitment to training is exceptional ... he always looks for ways to improve both technically and tactically. He has outstanding discipline, a willingness to learn and supports his teammates.&#39;Aleksandra Shelton OLY, National Sabre Head Coach, Australian Fencing Federation Beyond the competitionFencing has given Daniel much more than he imagined possible and, aware of this, he has sought to give back since early on. He has coached and mentored younger fencers since 2022, including at-risk students through a volunteer program. He sits on the Board of his Club, working to improve competition pathways for junior athletes. He is a nationally accredited sabre coach and referee, and is actively supporting the development of para fencing in Australia. &#39;The Athlete of the Year award recognises your commitment to training, your outstanding results both locally and internationally, your recognition by your school, peers, and communities, and your exemplary dedication of service to the sport’Dr A Wollaston, President, NSW Fencing, 2024/2025 season Getting here has taken a community - family and friends from Bermagui, Marrickville and now Padova in Italy, his coaches and club, teammates, strangers who opened their homes to host him for training and tournaments, and the teachers, students and alumni of Sydney Boys High School, who gave him a place for my final two years, and the alumni who continue to support him. &#39;A talented sportsman ... collaborative, open-minded, motivated and strives for success in all endeavours. He epitomises the ethos of the school in his steadfast pursuit of all round excellence.&#39;Dr K Jaggar OAM, Principal, Sydney Boys High School Why support DanielFor Australian fencers, a NCAA Division I college program is the pathway recommended by the Australian Fencing Federation. Daniel&#39;s potential has been recognised by Penn State, one of America&#39;s premier fencing programs. His domestic record is historic: nine national titles, results no Australian sabre male fencer has matched in 76 years, alongside seven international medals from Commonwealth and European events.What Daniel learns at Penn State comes back. The training, the competition experience, the coaching expertise, all of it returns to Australian fencing, creating opportunities for the next generation coming through. The Ask Daniel is contributing through his own work, his family is supporting what they can, and he has earned performance-based aid. There is still a gap to bridge: US$36,264 for Year 1 tuition and living expenses, enabling four years of world-class training not available in Australia. As an international student, Daniel is ineligible for US Federal aid. Funding for his first semester must be in place by August 2026. Missing this date means deferring enrolment for a year and disrupting the critical 2026–2030 Olympic qualification window. Your contribution bridges that gap. It also sets something larger in motion. Daniel came to fencing with no background, no connections and no budget. He got here through hard work, and through the generosity of people who believed in what was possible. He wants to help make sure more young fencers get that same chance, whatever their circumstances. Every contribution helps make that real. Photo credits: Ed Chiu and Fencing Sport Photography and Real Federacion Espanola de Esgrima

Daniel Iliffe: Penn State Pathway