MOCA x USA Fencing

Reserve Tickets Become a Member $20 General Admission (museum admission included) | $15 Student & Senior | $10 for MOCA Members For more than three decades, fencing has quietly become one of the most prominent yet undocumented sports within Chinese American communities across the United States. From Flushing to Arcadia, Fort Lee to Northern Virginia, generations of Chinese American families have turned to the sport, building clubs, shaping competitive pathways, and contributing to Team USA at the highest levels of international competition. Yet this remarkable cultural phenomenon remains largely absent from the historical record. In celebration of AANHPI Heritage Month, the Museum of Chinese in America and USA Fencing come together to spotlight this untold story through a dynamic evening of conversation and live demonstration. This event brings together leading Chinese American Olympians Alexander Massialas and Maia Chamberlain, with award-winning journalist Richard Lui serving as moderator, alongside renowned coach Andy Ma, to explore the intersections of sport, identity, and belonging. Through personal reflections and demonstrations, the program explores how fencing has served as both a competitive pursuit and a cultural touchpoint for many Chinese American families. The conversation also considers what it means to choose belonging through sport, and how discipline, community, and representation shape identity across generations. With Los Angeles 2028 on the horizon and fencing gaining greater visibility on the global stage, this program offers a timely opportunity to begin capturing a living history as it unfolds. About Alexander Massialas Alexander Massialas is one of the most decorated fencers in American history and a defining figure in the global growth of the sport. A graduate of Stanford University, he won an individual silver medal and team bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympics and team bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, cementing his legacy as one of the most accomplished foil fencers the United States has ever produced. He has also been a fixture on the FIE World Cup circuit for more than a decade, earning numerous individual and team medals at the world’s highest levels of competition. Today, Massialas gives back to the sport as head fencing coach at Stanford, where he is helping shape the next generation of elite fencers. About Maia Chamberlain Maia Chamberlain is one of the most exciting competitors in women’s saber, representing the United States with distinction on the world stage. A graduate of Princeton University, she competed for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics and has earned multiple medals at the FIE (International Fencing Federation) level, establishing herself as one of the sport’s most formidable saber fencers. Known for her explosive speed, tactical sharpness, and composure on the strip, Chamberlain embodies the scholar-athlete tradition that has long defined American fencing at its best. About Andy Ma Andy Ma ...