Maria Paola Pliego is a young professional fencer from Texas who is currently training withencers from the USA, Germany and Russia. She is originally from Mexico but has settled in the United States. She is listed at number 7 on the US National fencing athlete’s list. She is the National fencing team coach at the College of Texas, the women’s club team at North Texas University and the assistant women’s coach at Southern Utah University. She is also the Fitness Director for the North Texas Red Cross.
Born in Mazatlan, Mexico, Maria’s early years were spent as a child growing up near the Rio Grande. It was here that her love for martial arts would begin as she trained with her father in both boxing and percussion. After high school she joined the navy and began a three-year career in the Coast Guard before becoming a professional fencer in the US Army in Grenada. From there she received a number of medals including the Bronze Medallion for outstanding achievement in sabre fencing.
Following her retirement from the army, Maria has taken up fencing professionally and is now a sabre athlete focusing on performance in both foil and sabre combo events. Her greatest accomplishments to date are the silver medals won at the Pan American Games in Houston in both the men’s and women’s sabre events. Maria has also travelled to Europe to compete in sabre combo events there, including both the repechage and the medal events. At the same time she has become a popular fitness model for brands like Wilson, Dietrich and Von Zipper. Recently, she has launched a personal coaching service, which offers cutting edge fitness and nutrition advice to busy professionals through an online website.