This Sunday, coinciding with his 26th birthday, Cuban fencer Neisser Loyola makes his debut at the Paris Olympics representing Belgium. He moved to the European country at the age of 16, but his passion for fencing started much earlier. As a child, he would wield old TV antennas as swords with his neighborhood friends. This was not surprising since his father, Nelson Loyola Torriente, won a team bronze medal in fencing at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
The young athlete from Cienfuegos is among the 21 Cuban athletes competing under different flags in Paris. Loyola had a brief yet intense career in his native land. "I was the Cuban champion for three consecutive years, and at 14, they wanted to promote me to the senior team. However, my father, who was already a coach for the Belgian national team, didn't want me to move up and eventually arranged for family reunification so we could join him in Belgium," Loyola explained in an interview.
Neisser joined the Belgian team when his father obtained citizenship, but due to immigration regulations, he had to wait two more years and couldn't participate in official competitions. Although he couldn't join the senior team, he competed in the cadet category. Thanks to efforts by the Belgian fencing federation, he was able to join the Army as an athlete, becoming a full-time professional.
In July 2022, he attended his first World Championship and won bronze. According to Le Dernière Heure, this achievement was not only significant in his career but also historic for Belgium, which hadn't won a medal in these events since 1951.
Since then, his successes have been continuous. He has been the Belgian épée champion four times. Loyola won bronze in the individual event at the 2022 Fencing World Championships and took silver at the 2023 Grand Prix in Doha, Qatar.
Loyola resides in Arlon with his wife, Ksenia, and their son, Teylor, born in 2020. "My goal is to compete in the Olympic Games, and if possible, win a medal like my dad. Becoming an Olympic champion would be like touching the sky; it's the best result an athlete can achieve. I have the means to be one of the best in the world, and I will do everything possible to achieve that," he declared.
Neisser Loyola's Journey and Olympic Aspirations
Here are some frequently asked questions about Neisser Loyola's journey to the Olympics and his aspirations for Paris 2024.
What inspired Neisser Loyola to pursue fencing?
Neisser Loyola was inspired by his father, Nelson Loyola Torriente, who was a bronze medalist in fencing at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Why did Neisser Loyola choose to represent Belgium in the Olympics?
Loyola moved to Belgium at the age of 16 for family reunification, as his father was already coaching the Belgian national team. He later joined the Belgian team when his father obtained citizenship.
What are Neisser Loyola's major achievements in fencing?
Neisser Loyola has been the Belgian épée champion four times, won bronze at the 2022 Fencing World Championships, and took silver at the 2023 Grand Prix in Doha, Qatar.
What are Neisser Loyola's goals for the Paris 2024 Olympics?
Loyola aims to win an Olympic medal, following in the footsteps of his father. He aspires to become an Olympic champion, which he considers the pinnacle of athletic achievement.