After a grueling competition, Natalia Botello of Baja California won a gold medal in Fencing for the United States National Championship (NACC) on Friday, January 7.

The Tier 1 (global top division) tournament, held in San José, California, drew 162 fencers from all over the world, with the athlete from Tijuana being one of two Mexicans competing.

Natalia Botello's performance, which earned her the National Sports Award in 2017, is significant since it is just the second time a Mexican fencer has won this competition, the last time being 50 years earlier with Pilar Roldán.

Botello rebounded from a shaky start by losing his first battle, then won five in a row in the final to qualify for the following round in 18th position, allowing him to compete in the direct elimination duels.

She won four consecutive rounds in that competition, defeating internationally renowned competitors like Georgia's Teodora Kakhiani, whom she defeated 18-9.

Her opponent was American Olympian Eliza Stone, who was already in the semifinal stage, in a match that many considered to be the advanced final, with the Mexican representative winning in a dramatic 15-13 victory.

The gold-medal match was against Alexandra Lee, the host, with whom she had already fought valiantly, defeating her 15-7. Natalia Botello has successfully begun 2022 and continues to project as a strong contender for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

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