For Wheelchair Fencer Ellen Geddes, The Trick Is Never Hearing The Word ‘No’
Whether she’s “horrifically stubborn” or “tenacious,” Geddes’ mentality has helped her rise to the top of the sport.
Athlete Bio#
Height
5'3"
Age
25
Hometown
Parma, OH
Education
Ohio State University '22
classification: Category A
Quick Facts
- Lauryn DeLuca is a Paralympian and advocate for inclusivity in sports
- She began fencing at nine, transitioned to wheelchair fencing in 2013, and became a five-time national champion
- The youngest fencer at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, she was also the first wheelchair fencer in the NCAA while at Ohio State University
- Graduating magna cum laude in 2022 with a degree in Child and Youth Studies and a minor in Disability Studies, Lauryn has worked nationwide in adaptive sports, including a fellowship with LA28, shaping accessibility and DEIB initiatives
- She serves on the USA Fencing Board of Directors and the Team USA Athletes’ Commission and led efforts to bring parafencing to the NCAA championships stage in 2024
- Now back in Ohio, DeLuca enjoys life with her husband, Brian Greve
Paralympic Experience
- 1-time Paralympian
- Paralympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016, 11th (Individual Epee A - Women)
Career Highlights
- 2016 Wheelchair Pan American Championships – Epee, gold
- 2015 USA Fencing National Championships – Epee, gold; Foil, gold
- 2015 Wheelchair Pan American Championships – Category A Epee, silver; Category A Foil, bronze
