Columbia Trailblazer; Iman Blow '19CC
2/17/2021 11:00:00 AM | General, Fencing
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Fencer Iman Blow became the first Black woman in Columbia athletics history to win an individual national championship after capturing the NCAA foil title in 2018.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH—Competing for one of the oldest and most storied fencing programs in the nation, it might be hard to create a lasting legacy at Columbia, but Iman Blow did just that. She accomplished everything from national team and Ivy League Championships to NCAA individual titles and still found time to make an impact outside of competition.
Following her outstanding collegiate fencing career, Blow was a recipient of the NCAA Top-10 award, which recognizes former student-athletes for their successes on the field, in the classroom and in the community, and was the Ivy League's nomination for NCAA Woman of the Year in 2020 upon her graduation.
Blow won the 2018 individual NCAA championship in women's foil and was a member of two national championship teams in 2016 and 2019. Blow was a three-time All-American, two-time First Team All-America selection, four-time NCAA Northeast Regional medalist (two-time Gold Medalist), and two-time All-Ivy League honoree. She also helped her team claim three Ivy League Championships. Blow also represented the United States in three Junior World Fencing Championships. She is also a member of the U.S. women's foil team, which in 2018, earned a No. 1 world ranking for the first time in the sport's history. She concluded her Columbia career with a 173-38 overall record.
A two-time Academic All-Ivy League recipient, Blow was a scholar in Gerald E. Thomson Undergraduate Premedical Program, which pairs premed students with mentors in the medical field and provides career exposure, development and practical experience.
She also spearheaded conduct training for minor athletes on the junior and cadet national fencing teams to help prevent sexual misconduct and educate athletes about resources available to them if they faced such misconduct. Her advocacy pushed for and led to a Safe Sport Training program to be created for minors/athletes participating in the Junior (Under-19) and Cadet (Under-17) Pan American Championships and World Championships. Blow was also an active member of the Black Student Organization at Columbia, which offers a support system to students and addresses social and political issues that impact them.
A neuroscience and behavior major at Columbia, Blow is currently ranked the No. 6 women's foilist in the United States and is on track to compete at the 2021 summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Following her outstanding collegiate fencing career, Blow was a recipient of the NCAA Top-10 award, which recognizes former student-athletes for their successes on the field, in the classroom and in the community, and was the Ivy League's nomination for NCAA Woman of the Year in 2020 upon her graduation.
Blow won the 2018 individual NCAA championship in women's foil and was a member of two national championship teams in 2016 and 2019. Blow was a three-time All-American, two-time First Team All-America selection, four-time NCAA Northeast Regional medalist (two-time Gold Medalist), and two-time All-Ivy League honoree. She also helped her team claim three Ivy League Championships. Blow also represented the United States in three Junior World Fencing Championships. She is also a member of the U.S. women's foil team, which in 2018, earned a No. 1 world ranking for the first time in the sport's history. She concluded her Columbia career with a 173-38 overall record.A two-time Academic All-Ivy League recipient, Blow was a scholar in Gerald E. Thomson Undergraduate Premedical Program, which pairs premed students with mentors in the medical field and provides career exposure, development and practical experience.
She also spearheaded conduct training for minor athletes on the junior and cadet national fencing teams to help prevent sexual misconduct and educate athletes about resources available to them if they faced such misconduct. Her advocacy pushed for and led to a Safe Sport Training program to be created for minors/athletes participating in the Junior (Under-19) and Cadet (Under-17) Pan American Championships and World Championships. Blow was also an active member of the Black Student Organization at Columbia, which offers a support system to students and addresses social and political issues that impact them.
A neuroscience and behavior major at Columbia, Blow is currently ranked the No. 6 women's foilist in the United States and is on track to compete at the 2021 summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Players Mentioned
FOIL
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