Liza Pusztai is one of the five amazingly talented young athletes in the run for the 2019 Piotr Nurowski “Best European Young Athlete” Prize.

The 18-year-old Hungarian fencer has been selected after being crowned World Junior Champion twice and winning gold medals in both the sabre individual and sabre mixed team competitions at the Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018.

“I can’t specifically say I should win the Piotr Nurowski prize, because the other athletes would deserve it as much as I do,” Pusztai said.

“Fencing taught me how to fight to reach my goals and I can use this value in every part of my life. Being awarded the 2019 Best European young athlete would be the right feedback to myself that I am going on the right path to reach my goals”.

Despite her young age, she is also leaving a mark at senior level, as she clinched a silver medal at the European Fencing Championships Düsseldorf 2019.

Liza started fencing at the age of nine, and showcased her talent early on by breaking age group national records. She is considered one of the most talented young Hungarian fencers and has been nominated not only for her outstanding achievements on the field of play, but also because her dedication and tenacity have already made her a role model for young athletes in Hungary.

Liza is training hard to earn her spot at her first Olympic Games in Tokyo next year. She is hoping to get a quota place first and then make it to the final eight in the individual competition. For Paris 2024 her goal is clearly to finish on the podium and take home a much-desired Olympic medal.