Molly Sullivan Sliney
Encyclopedia
Molly Sullivan Sliney is a former American foil
fencer
, motivational speaker and fencing instructor.
Sliney was a member of the 1988 and 1992 United States Olympic fencing teams. She also won two gold medals in the 1987 and 1991 Pan American Games. While fencing for the University of Notre Dame
, she was the NCAA Women's Foil Individual Champion
in 1986 and 1988. At the time she was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for winning two individual NCAA titles. Sliney also was U.S. National Champion
in 1985. In 1987, she led the Notre Dame Women's Foil Team to an NCAA championship by posting a 10-0 record in the tournament. This was the first time the Fighting Irish had ever won an NCAA Women's title in any sport. She graduated with a 160-14 record, and Notre Dame named her 1980s Female Athlete of the Decade.
Since retiring from competition in 1992, Sliney has been an active motivational speaker and fencing instructor. She primarily speaks to students, sharing her many experiences, including how she overcame the learning disability dyslexia
. Her presentations focus on the importance of reading, goal-setting and improving self-esteem. She also runs after-school fencing programs at several locations in the greater-Boston area.
Sliney resides in Bradford, Massachusetts
with her husband Keith, and children Michaela and Troy.
Foil (fencing)
A foil is a type of weapon used in fencing. It is the most common weapon in terms of usage in competition, and is usually the choice for elementary classes for fencing in general.- Components:...
fencer
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
, motivational speaker and fencing instructor.
Sliney was a member of the 1988 and 1992 United States Olympic fencing teams. She also won two gold medals in the 1987 and 1991 Pan American Games. While fencing for the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, she was the NCAA Women's Foil Individual Champion
NCAA fencing individual championship
NCAA Fencing individual championship results.-Men's Foil:-Men's Epee:-Men's Saber:-Women's Foil:-Women's Epee:-Women's Saber:-See also:*NCAA Fencing team championship*List of NCAA fencing schools*USFA Division I National Championship...
in 1986 and 1988. At the time she was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for winning two individual NCAA titles. Sliney also was U.S. National Champion
USFA Division I National Championship
This is a list of United States Fencing Association Division I national champions.-Men's Épée:* 1888 Eugene Higgins* 1889 Graeme Monroe Hammond* 1890 Alexander Greger* 1891 Graeme Monroe Hammond* 1892 Bernard Francis O'Connor...
in 1985. In 1987, she led the Notre Dame Women's Foil Team to an NCAA championship by posting a 10-0 record in the tournament. This was the first time the Fighting Irish had ever won an NCAA Women's title in any sport. She graduated with a 160-14 record, and Notre Dame named her 1980s Female Athlete of the Decade.
Since retiring from competition in 1992, Sliney has been an active motivational speaker and fencing instructor. She primarily speaks to students, sharing her many experiences, including how she overcame the learning disability dyslexia
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a very broad term defining a learning disability that impairs a person's fluency or comprehension accuracy in being able to read, and which can manifest itself as a difficulty with phonological awareness, phonological decoding, orthographic coding, auditory short-term memory, or rapid...
. Her presentations focus on the importance of reading, goal-setting and improving self-esteem. She also runs after-school fencing programs at several locations in the greater-Boston area.
Sliney resides in Bradford, Massachusetts
Bradford, Massachusetts
Bradford is a former town in Essex County, Massachusetts. The name currently refers to the area on the south side of the Merrimack River in Haverhill, Massachusetts that was once Bradford...
with her husband Keith, and children Michaela and Troy.