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SHELTON Aleksandra
NOC United States   
GenderWomen
Born 30 Mar 1982 in Pabianice, POL
Height1.76 m
Human Interest
Further Personal Information
Residence Portland, OR, USA
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team Oregon Fencing Alliance : United States
General Interest
Hobbies Travelling, snowboarding. (sportowefakty.wp.pl, 06 Mar 2019)
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport? She was inspired to take up the sport after watching her mother compete in fencing on television.
Handedness Right
When and where did you begin this sport? She began taking foil lessons at age 11 in Pabianice, Poland. At age 17 she switched from foil to sabre.
International Debut
Tournament Word Cup
Further Personal Information
Occupation Athlete
Languages English, Polish
General Interest
Nicknames Ola (olasocha.pl, 07 May 2017)
Other information NATIONALITY SWITCH
She represented Poland at four consecutive editions of the Olympic Games between 2004 and 2016 but decided she wanted to compete for the United States of America in 2019. She was unhappy with the support she had received in Poland following the birth of her son Henry in 2017 and qualified to represent the United States of America through her marriage to US citizen Bradley Shelton. "I did not receive support after my maternity break from the Polish team, which would have allowed me to return to the highest level and fight on the international stage. I was too old for them and not good enough, so that's why I went to the US team." When the Polish Olympic Committee and Polish Fencing Federation attempted to block the switch in 2019, she appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which ruled in her favour in October 2020. Her switch to the US team was confirmed by the International Olympic Committee in December 2020. "It's a huge relief. I should never have had to go that far to get help. The whole thing cost me and my family a lot, also financially. We had to spend our life savings. I spent about $100,000 on fighting for my career." (sport.tvp.pl, 24 Dec 2020; olympic.org, 07 Dec 2020; nytimes.com, 14 Oct 2020, 22 Feb 2020; sportowefakty.wp.pl, 06 Mar 2019; magazynsportowiec.pl, 05 Mar 2019)

COACHING
She is a qualified fencing coach and fitness instructor. (olasocha.pl, 21 Feb 2016)

FURTHER EDUCATION
Having previously gained a physical education degree from Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Poland, she went on to study international relations and diplomacy at Collegium Civitas in Warsaw. (olasocha.pl, 21 Feb 2016)
Further Personal Information
Higher education Physical Education - Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education: Warsaw, POL
General Interest
Injuries Before the 2012 Olympic Games in London she struggled with a slipped disc in her back. (przegladsportowy.pl, 08 Aug 2016)
Sport Specific Information
Footedness Ambidextrous
General Interest
Memorable sporting achievement Winning a gold medal at the 2004 European Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, and competing at four consecutive editions of the Olympic Games between 2004 and 2016. (SportsDeskOnline, 03 May 2021; mjakmama24.pl, 01 May 2017)
Ambitions To compete at the Olympic Games in 2020 and 2024. (magazynsportowiec.pl, 05 Mar 2019)
Further Personal Information
Family Husband Bradley Shelton, son Henry [2017]
Other names Aleksandra Socha
General Interest
Famous relatives Her mother competed in fencing at national level in Poland. (olasocha.pl, 21 Feb 2016; NOC, 04 May 2004)
Sport Specific Information
Name of coach Ed Korfanty [club], POL
General Interest
Sporting philosophy / motto "Every experience is an opportunity to learn and grow." (Instagram profile, 24 Apr 2021)

Major Results
Year Rank Event Venue
Olympic Games
2016 Final 5-6 Team Sabre Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2008 6 Team Sabre Beijing, China
World Championships
2019 Final 7-8 Team Sabre Budapest, Hungary
2015 5 Individual Sabre Moscow, Russia
2014 Quarterfinal Individual Sabre Kazan, Russia
2013 7 Individual Sabre Budapest, Hungary
2011 5 Team Sabre Catania, Italy
2010 6 Team Sabre Paris, France
2009 7 Team Sabre Antalya, Turkey
2007 6 Team Sabre St. Petersburg, Russia
2007 8 Individual Sabre St. Petersburg, Russia
2006 4 Team Sabre Turin, Italy
2005 4 Team Sabre Leipzig, Germany
2003 3 Individual Sabre Havana, Cuba
European Championships
2018 6 Team Sabre Novi Sad, Serbia
2016 6 Individual Sabre Torun, Poland
2014 8 Individual Sabre Strasbourg, France
2013 3 Individual Sabre Zagreb, Croatia
2013 4 Team Sabre Zagreb, Croatia
2012 3 Individual Sabre Legnano, Italy
2011 2 Individual Sabre Sheffield, England
2010 5 Team Sabre Leipzig, Germany
2010 7 Individual Sabre Leipzig, Germany
2009 6 Team Sabre Plovdiv, Bulgaria
2008 1 Team Sabre Kiev, Ukraine
2007 6 Team Sabre Ghent, Belgium
2007 8 Individual Sabre Ghent, Belgium
2006 2 Team Sabre Izmir, Turkey
2006 5 Individual Sabre Izmir, Turkey
2004 1 Individual Sabre Copenhagen, Denmark
2002 6 Individual Sabre Moscow, Russia
2001 3 Team Sabre Koblenz, Germany