Update: june 2026
Dear Friends, Students, and Fellow Fencers,
After much reflection, I have decided to retire from fencing and close down my operations. This is not a decision made lightly. It comes after many years—decades, in fact—of being deeply immersed in this sport, and it feels like the right moment to step back and open a new chapter of life.
For over 30 years, I have had the privilege of coaching, building, and shaping fencers at a high level, watching athletes grow from their first steps on the strip into strong, disciplined, and capable competitors. To have been part of that journey has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I have poured my heart into this work, and in return, it has given me meaning, purpose, and countless unforgettable moments.
But beyond medals, competitions, and results, what has truly defined this journey are the people.
To all my students—past and present—thank you. Thank you for your trust, your effort, your patience, and your presence. Every lesson, every bout, every success, and every setback has been shared, and I carry all of it with deep gratitude.
Fencing is more than a sport. It is discipline, timing, respect, and a quiet understanding between people who step onto the strip. I will always remember the intensity before a bout, the laughter between drills, the surprise of unexpected victories, and even the frustration of difficult lessons that eventually turned into growth.
But there is something I especially want to say clearly from my heart.
While I have had the privilege of coaching many competitive and high-level athletes, my deepest respect goes to those who trained simply for the love of the sport—those who showed up consistently, worked hard, supported others, and never stepped onto a podium, but gave everything they had anyway. You are the true heroes of this journey. Your dedication, humility, and loyalty to the process are what give this sport its soul.
There are countless memories I will carry with me. The energy of training halls, the sound of blades, the shared focus before exchanges, the joy of breakthroughs, and yes—even the chaotic moments that made us all pause and laugh before continuing on. These are the things I will never forget.
I am also deeply grateful to the parents, colleagues, and friends who supported this journey. Your trust and encouragement made everything possible, often in ways unseen but always felt.
As I move forward, I do so with gratitude rather than sadness. I am ready to discover new places, new experiences, and a different rhythm of life. But what I leave behind is not an ending—it is a continuation in each of you.
This is not a goodbye. It is a thank you.
Thank you for 30 incredible years. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for letting me be part of your lives, your growth, and your journey.
Fencing will always remain a part of me, because all of you will always remain a part of me.
With deep gratitude and respect,
Krystyna
Madison Magazine:
Celebrating fair play, challenge, respect and fun since 1997
En garde!
Cracovia School of Foil Fencing puts the art in athleticism.
One of our successs stories from 2019:
Like most of you know, our own Linus Rastegar after 12 years of learning foil fencing at Cracovia under my direction and completing high school moved to his native country Austria to continue his fantastic fencing path.
He is living in Vienna and dedicated his time only to fencing for the last eight months: daily private lessons with Austrian Olympic Coach Evgeni Pickman! conditioning, lifts, bouting, and competing around Europe (well… I miss that part)
Linus took the bronze medal at Austrian Junior Championship!
He got enough points to make the top 10 in Austria in seniors and qualify for the Grand Prix in Shanghai, China. Linus received an invitation from the Chinese Fencing Federation to train at the Olympic Training Facility in Peking a few days before the Grand Prix in Shanghai. BRAVO!
Thank you to Meredith Barack of NBC15.com !
Madison woman is aiming to share her passion for the sport of fencing, just in time for the Summer Olympics in Rio!…
One of our successs stories from 2019:
Like most of you know, our own Linus Rastegar after 12 years of learning foil fencing at Cracovia under my direction and completing high school moved to his native country Austria to continue his fantastic fencing path.
He is living in Vienna and dedicated his time only to fencing for the last eight months: daily private lessons with Austrian Olympic Coach Evgeni Pickman! conditioning, lifts, bouting, and competing around Europe (well… I miss that part)
Linus took the bronze medal at Austrian Junior Championship!
He got enough points to make the top 10 in Austria in seniors and qualify for the Grand Prix in Shanghai, China. Linus received an invitation from the Chinese Fencing Federation to train at the Olympic Training Facility in Peking a few days before the Grand Prix in Shanghai. BRAVO!
Thank you to Laura Kocum Writer-Marketing for your time and interest in Cracovia … and for a fantastic article about us!
Click here to read: Olympic Foil Fencing Offers Exercise and Community
