Pascual Di Tella had to quit fencing to make it to the Olympics.
In the qualifying round for the 2020 Olympics, the Argentine fencer made a single mistake that cost him a bid to Tokyo.
"It was basically like missing a free throw," he said. "I was literally millimeters away."
After fencing full time to achieve his Olympic dream, the disappointment of missing Tokyo led Di Tella to quit fencing. He began working a 9-to-5 job in the music industry and stepped away from the sport.
Yet Di Tella missed the mental and physical stimulation of competitive fencing. He decided to fence in two tournaments. In the Pan American Games, he medaled without training for several months.
The Argentine Fencing Federation called, encouraging him to fence again because officials there believed he had a shot at the Olympics. So in 2022, Di Tella took another stab at his dreams. Two years later, he received the long-awaited call: He qualified for the Paris Olympic Games as the top-ranked Argentine fencer.
To prepare for the Olympics, Di Tella trains for an hour in the morning, works his 9-5 job, then trains again from 7-9:30. Over the weekends, he will train for three to four hours.
Di Tella thrives on the rigor of his schedule. In fact, working while preparing for the Olympics has liberated him.
"It gives you perspective on basically the fact that if you lose, it's not the end of the world," the 29-year-old said. "It allows you to take risks and be free with your tactical plans."
Di Tella learned to balance fencing and other pursuits during his time at Duke.
Yet the Argentine's decision to commit to Duke did not involve reasoning based on fencing, academics or the campus.
Pascual Di Tella celebrates during a competition his senior year at Duke. (Photo courtesy of Duke)
As Di Tella toured another campus, he stopped a student walking by to ask about their experience. The student asked what other schools Di Tella planned to visit, Di Tella said Duke. The student froze.
"Dude, if you can go to Duke, go to Duke," the student said.
The student's response told him everything he needed to know; he committed shortly after that. Although an unorthodox way to decide, Di Tella knows he chose correctly.Â
"When I arrived (at Duke), I couldn't believe it. It was incredible," Di Tella said.Â
"Being from Argentina, Duke was the closest to being a professional," he added. "They support you so much. They have great strength and conditioning, sports psychologists (and) physical therapists. I mean they even do your laundry."
Argentina has limited opportunities for fencers, so Di Tella appreciated the resources he received during his four years at Duke.Â
"I think the NCAA system and colleges like Duke are incredible," said Di Tella, who graduated in 2018 with a double major in philosophy and political science. "The value is really, really huge for all of us."
Duke's fencing program not only afforded Di Tella with new opportunities but raised his standards and expectations.
"You see there's a wall of Olympians, NCAA champions, ACC champions, so you see what the possibilities are, and it raises the bar for you internally," he said.
The inspiration worked: Di Tella won 78% of his matches while at Duke from 2015-18. He earned Atlantic Coast Conference Fencer of the Year three times, was the 2017 ACC sabre champion and was named the 2017 ACC Men's Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
"I'm not just an Argentine; I'm also a Duke athlete," he said. "So suddenly, all excuses are out the window, and it clarifies the possibilities and expectations."Â
The Di Tella siblings pose after medaling in the Pan American Games. (Photo courtesy of COA Press via ENARD.org)
Di Tella's family lineage also raises his standard. His older sister, Clara Isabel Maria de las Mercedes, ranks 15th in the world in fencing and serves as Pascual's inspiration.Â
"Having a sister that's so successful allows you to have a high standard for yourself."
Di Tella began competitively fencing at 14 to be like his sister. He hopes his younger brothers, Blas and Ulises, follow in his footsteps as they begin competitive fencing.
"Hopefully they see in me what I see in my sister," he said.
His mother, Astrid Maria, skied for Argentina in the 1988 and 1992 Winter Olympics. His father, Rafael, fenced for Argentina in the '88 and '92 Olympic Games.
"I grew up with the posters of the Olympics that my parents went to on the walls of my house, so it's always been a dream to qualify."Â
Now, he will be adding his Olympic poster to his home. When asked where it will hang, Di Tella said, "Hopefully in a bigger apartment than the one I live in now."
