Donát Kiss and Alina reflect ahead of the World Championships in Wuxi
As reigning European Champions in Cadet Epee, Hungary’s Donát Kiss and Ukraine’s Alina Dmytruk are preparing to take the world stage at the upcoming World Championships in Wuxi. We caught up with these two rising stars to hear more about their preparation, mindset, and expectations ahead of this major event.
Donát Kiss: “Just stay calm and fence”
Donát, the newly crowned European Champion in cadet men’s epee, approaches the World Championships with a calm yet determined mindset.
“My preparation is going great. I truly enjoy training for such a big event, and I’m focusing on getting better with every session. I feel ready to compete and super excited for the competition.”
Although this will be his first time visiting China, Donát is focused on the task ahead.
“I can't wait to be in Wuxi and experience China and the city. But of course, my priority is the competition itself — that’s what I’m going for.”
His goal remains simple and focused:
“I want to show what I’m capable of and bring out the best in myself. I try not to put pressure on myself — just stay calm and fence.”
Training five days a week, including sessions with the Hungarian national team, Donát keeps his attention on the piste.
“The World Championship is a huge event and naturally comes with its challenges. That’s why I’m trying to focus entirely on fencing and stay in the moment.”
Alina Dmytruk: “Turn nerves into sharp actions”
Alina, who clinched the European title in cadet women’s epee earlier this season, brings a mix of excitement and focus to her World Championship debut.
“Prep for the World Championships has been going on all season, and it’s been super productive. I’ve made great progress and I’m feeling pretty confident heading into it.”
Traveling to China for the first time adds an extra layer of excitement for the Ukrainian champion:
“It’s such a unique country, so different from where I come from, and I can’t wait to experience the culture, the food, and just the atmosphere. I’m also really looking forward to seeing my friends from other countries again—it’s always such a great vibe when we all get together.”
Her goals are rooted in both performance and experience:
“I just want to show my best fencing and enjoy every moment out there. It’s a great chance to gain experience, have fun, and of course, I’ll be pushing hard to make it onto the podium too!”
Alina is open about the emotional side of competition and how she’s learning to embrace it:
“Managing all the emotions before and during the competition is definitely a challenge—sometimes it feels like I’m fencing my own nerves before I even get to the piste! But I’m working on turning all that emotional energy into good footwork and sharp actions.”
In this final stretch before Wuxi, she’s focusing on balance:
“My typical training week includes regular fencing sessions, individual lessons, and physical conditioning. But this week, I’ve slightly reduced the intensity to allow my body to recover and be in top form.”
When it comes to managing pressure, she keeps things in perspective:
“I remind myself that my nerves are probably no bigger than my opponents' — we’re all in the same boat!”
