MEDICUS FEBRUARY 2016

F O R T H E R E C O R D

Allez, Dr Lee! DR BERNADETTE LEE RMO, ROYAL PERTH HOSPITAL

being in the right place at the right time, and then a well- respected fencing coach offered to train me. Q. Which modern fencing weapon do you specialise in – the épée, foil or sabre – and why? BL: I do the épée – the easiest to pick up, but the hardest to master. My coach felt it was most important that I used a weapon I could learn easily because of my age when I started. Unfortunately, in sports, I was considered ‘old’ at 23! Q. How often do you train? BL: During the season, I train almost every day if work permits. I train with other fencers (free sparring and bouts) 3-4 times a week, and the other days I do some sort of fitness or a one-to-one lesson with my coach. Q. How do you manage to train and compete, all the while pursuing a medical career? BL: I’ve been really lucky to be able to fit fencing around my work. Generally if I’m working a standard day shift, training just fits in after work; if I’m doing a night shift then I try to catch some rest before getting some training around midday. My priority days are those where I have sparring and bouts with other fencers, so I try to make myself available then by swapping shifts. Most of my co-workers and consultants are very understanding and willing to give me a hand in swapping shifts. Early on, my coach and I established that work was always the priority,

Q. You began competitive fencing in 2012. What made you turn to the sport? BL: I did competitive swimming when I was younger, and competed internationally for about 12 years. When I qualified for medical school, I received a lot of well- intentioned advice about the difficulties in trying to pursue competitive sport while studying. So, I quit. I realised afterward that I didn’t even try before giving up. The real struggle, however, was that I had become used to following a highly disciplined schedule;

without a sport, admittedly, I was a little lost. I started doing a range of

sports (even underwater

hockey!) and fencing was one of them. I think it was

and he tries to fit my one- on-one lessons around my

schedule. Most times, we train at reasonable hours, but there have been occasions when we have had 6am lessons. I use my paid leave for international training and competitions. Some times, if the competition is

interstate or in South East Asia, I can leave on Friday night, compete over the weekend, and return in time for work on Monday. It’s taxing, but doable.

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