Miles Chamley-Watson

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Miles Chamley-Watson
Silver medal at Pan Am Games - 2023.png
Chamley-Watson at the 2023 Pan American Games
Personal information
Full nameMiles Cleveland Chamley-Watson
Born (1989-12-03) December 3, 1989 (age 34)
London, United Kingdom
Height6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight205 lb (93 kg)
Sport
Country United States
Sport Fencing
Weapon Foil
HandRight-handed
ClubLos Angeles International Fencing Center
Head coachMichael Itkin
FIE  ranking current ranking
Medal record
Olympic Games
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2013 Budapest Individual
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2019 Budapest Team
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2013 Budapest Team
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2017 Leipzig Team
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2018 Wuxi Team
Pan American Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2011 Guadalajara Team
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2015 Toronto Team
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2023 Santiago Team
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2023 Santiago Individual

Miles Chamley-Watson, (born December 3, 1989) is a British-born American right-handed foil fencer. He is a 12-time team Pan American champion, team world champion (2019), individual world champion (2013), two-time Olympian, and team Olympic bronze medalist (2016). [1]

Contents

Childhood

Miles Chamley-Watson was born in London. He is of Jamaican, Irish, British, and Malawian descent. [2] [3] He spent the first eight years of his life as a resident of the UK until he and his family moved to the United States. Upon arriving to the US, Chamley-Watson and his family settled in New York City, where he began fencing one year later, at the Knox School in Saint James, New York. [4] After spending four years in New York City, Chamley-Watson and his family settled in Philadelphia.

College

Chamley-Watson earned a full scholarship to the Pennsylvania State University in the year 2008. During his tenure at Penn State, Chamley-Watson majored in Sports Management, where he transferred what he had learned and what he was continuing to learn from the sport of fencing to help boost his knowledge in his area of study.

First year (2008–2009)

During Chamley-Watson's first year as a Division I NCAA fencer, he maintained a 19–4 record. He advanced to the semi-finals round in the national championship tournament in the men's foil category. However, Chamley-Watson was defeated in the semi-finals 15 to 14 by teammate Nicholas Chinman. The Nittany Lions Fencing team ended the tournament on top as the 2008–2009 National Team Champions.

Second year (2009–2010)

Much like his first year, Chamley-Watson went to the semi-final round of the NCAA championships. He was defeated by Notre Dame's Olympic fencer Gerek Meinhardt.

Junior year (2010–2011)

Nearing the end of his collegiate career, Chamley-Watson had the choice to redshirt his junior year of college, which would mean taking the year off from competitions in favor of more intense practice and skill-development, or choose to compete and redshirt his senior year. Chamley-Watson decided to compete in the NCAA Championships his junior year and redshirt his senior year.

Senior year (2011–2012)

After finishing 2nd place in men's foil at the NCAA tournament, Chamley-Watson decided that it was time to utilize his allotted redshirt year. During this hiatus from NCAA competition, Chamley-Watson privately practiced fencing. Chamley-Watson would earn himself the top spot on the United States' Olympic Fencing team as a foil fencer.

International career

Chamley-Watson entered the 2012 Summer Olympics as the No. 2 ranked foil fencer. His first round in the games he was presented a bye into the next round. In the second round, Chamley-Watson fenced Alaaeldin Abouelkassem, an opponent representing the country of Egypt, and was defeated 15 – 10. Abouelkassem went on to earn the silver medal in the event. In the team event, the United States beat France 45–39 in the quarterfinals, but lost 24–45 to Italy in the semi-final. In the bronze medal fight, the United States lost 27–45 to Germany.

At the 2013 World Championships, Chamley-Watson became the first male US fencer to win an individual gold medal at the World Championships. [5]

At the 2016 Olympics, Chamley-Watson again lost in the second round, this time to Russia's Artur Akhmatkhuzin, 13–15. [6] In the team event, the United States beat Egypt 45–27 in the quarterfinals, before losing 41–45 to Russia in the semi-finals. In the bronze medal match, the United States beat Italy 45–31.

Signature Move

During a match in his World Championships debut, Chamley-Watson wrapped his arm around the back of his head and struck his opponent in the chest with his foil. It was the first time a fencer had ever used this kind of behind-the-back flick in a competition. [7] Unsure of its legality, the referee stopped the match to check the move on video replay. After it was determined to be legitimate, Chamley-Watson was awarded his own signature fencing move, eponymously named 'the Chamley-Watson'. [8]

Medal Record

Olympic Games

YearLocationEventPosition
2016 Flag of Brazil.svg Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Team Men's Foil3rd [9]

World Championship

YearLocationEventPosition
2013 Flag of Hungary.svg Budapest, Hungary Individual Men's Foil1st [10]
2013 Flag of Hungary.svg Budapest, Hungary Team Men's Foil2nd [11]
2017 Flag of Germany.svg Leipzig, Germany Team Men's Foil2nd [12]
2018 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Wuxi, China Team Men's Foil2nd [13]
2019 Flag of Hungary.svg Budapest, Hungary Team Men's Foil1st [14]

Pan American Championship

YearLocationEventPosition
2008 Flag of Mexico.svg Querétaro City, Mexico Team Men's Foil1st [15]
2009 Flag of El Salvador.svg San Salvador, El Salvador Individual Men's Foil3rd [16]
2009 Flag of El Salvador.svg San Salvador, El Salvador Team Men's Foil1st [17]
2010 Flag of Costa Rica.svg San José, Costa Rica Individual Men's Foil2nd [18]
2010 Flag of Costa Rica.svg San José, Costa Rica Team Men's Foil1st [19]
2011 Flag of the United States.svg Reno, Nevada Team Men's Foil1st [20]
2012 Flag of Mexico.svg Cancún, Mexico Team Men's Foil1st [21]
2013 Flag of Colombia.svg Cartagena, Colombia Individual Men's Foil3rd [22]
2013 Flag of Colombia.svg Cartagena, Colombia Team Men's Foil1st [23]
2014 Flag of Costa Rica.svg San José, Costa Rica Team Men's Foil1st [24]
2015 Flag of Chile.svg Santiago, Chile Team Men's Foil1st [25]
2016 Flag of Panama.svg Panama City, Panama Individual Men's Foil3rd [26]
2017 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Montreal, Canada Individual Men's Foil3rd [27]
2017 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Montreal, Canada Team Men's Foil1st [28]
2018 Flag of Cuba.svg Havana, Cuba Team Men's Foil1st [29]
2019 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Toronto, Canada Team Men's Foil1st [30]
2023 Flag of Peru.svg Lima, Peru Team Men's Foil1st [31]

Grand Prix

DateLocationEventPosition
05/24/2010 Flag of Russia.svg St. Petersburg, Russia Individual Men's Foil3rd [32]
05/15/2015 Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Shanghai, China Individual Men's Foil1st [33]

World Cup

DateLocationEventPosition
06/12/2009 Flag of Venezuela.svg Estado Vargas, Venezuela Individual Men's Foil3rd [34]
06/11/2010 Flag of Venezuela.svg Margarita Island, Venezuela Individual Men's Foil2nd [35]
02/05/2016 Flag of Germany.svg Bonn, Germany Individual Men's Foil2nd [36]
11/11/2016 Flag of Japan.svg Tokyo, Japan Individual Men's Foil1st [37]

Modeling

Growing up, Chamley-Watson was engaged in the fashion world by his mother, who was formerly a model in the UK. In addition to his interest in fashion, Chamley-Watson was motivated to begin modeling as a way to give the sport of fencing more exposure. [38]

When Chamley-Watson was 17-years-old, he was scouted by Ford Models while walking on the street in New York City. However, he told the agency that he was going to college soon and couldn’t sign with them. A few years later, when Chamley-Watson redshirted his senior year of college to prepare for the Olympics, he took the opportunity to also begin modeling on the side. [39] From there, Chamley-Watson’s modeling career grew.

In 2017, Chamley-Watson signed with IMG Models, and is still currently represented by them. [40]

Sponsorships and Partnerships

Chamley-Watson is currently sponsored by Red Bull, Nike, Richard Mille, and Cash App. He wears his sponsors’ logos on his fencing equipment—on his mask, glove, and jacket. Additionally, he regularly wears a Richard Mille watch and Nike fencing shoes and socks at competitions, as well as a Red Bull cap in between matches and on podiums. [41]

Chamley-Watson is also sponsored by Absolute Fencing Gear, who supply all of the fencing equipment for his training and competitions. [42]

As the most followed fencer in the world, Chamley-Watson frequently uses his social media to post about his sponsorships, and to also post about new and recurring partnerships. He is currently partnered with Mercedes-Benz, Dior, Michael Kors, Dita Eyewear, and DKNY. [43]

Injury

In March 2021, during the Doha Grand Prix, Chamley-Watson suffered an injury during a match when his right knee was hit by his opponent’s foil, causing severe blunt trauma to the knee cap and almost breaking it. His knee injury caused him to be out for the remainder of the season and, consequently, miss the 2020 Summer Olympics. Chamley-Watson spent the following months recovering. [44]

This was the first injury of Chamley-Watson’s career. [45]

Personal life

Chamley-Watson has been involved in voters' rights, participating the ID check with VoteRiders and urging his followers to do the same. [46]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  2. ↑ "TSL OLYMPIC BLITZ: MILES CHAMLEY-WATSON, FENCING'S SOUL PROVIDER". August 16, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  3. ↑ "FORCE OF NATURE: MILES CHAMLEY-WATSON". Red Bull . Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  4. ↑ Warelis, Robert (September 5, 2019). "Miles Chamley-Watson '08". The Knox School. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Fencer – CHAMLEY-WATSON Miles – USA – FIE – International Fencing Federation". fie.org. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Miles Chamley-Watson Bio, Stats, and Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Miles Chamley-Watson". richardmille.com. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Fencer Attacks and Parries. Then, Whoa, What Was That?". nytimes.com. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  9. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
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  20. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  21. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  22. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  23. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  24. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  25. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  26. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  27. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  28. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  29. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  30. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  31. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  32. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  33. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  34. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  35. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  36. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  37. ↑ "INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website". INTERNATIONAL FENCING FEDERATION - The International Fencing Federation official website. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  38. ↑ "How Olympic Fencer Miles Chamley-Watson Broke Into the Fashion World". esquire.com. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Meet the Olympic Fencer Who Moonlights as a High Fashion Model". eobserver.com. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  40. ↑ "CR Exclusive: Olympic Fencer Miles Chamley-Watson Lands IMG Modeling Contract". crfashionbook.com. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  41. ↑ "Miles Chamley-Watson". instagram.com. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  42. ↑ "About Us". absolutefencinggear.com. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  43. ↑ "Miles Chamley-Watson". instagram.com. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  44. ↑ "One Extraordinary Year". redbull.com. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  45. ↑ "The Fencing & Fashion of Miles Chamley-Watson". highsnobiety.com. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  46. ↑ "Miles Chamley-Watson on Instagram: "LAST NIGHT SHOWED US HOW DAMN IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO VOTE THIS CLOWN OUT. @thevoteriders . IM PARTICIPATING IN THE #idcheck #vote .…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
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