For A laugh, somebody should have shouted out that Aliya Itzkowitz's £1,000 cheque was going to an American at the Sport's Aid ceremony this week.
But the 14-year-old from Notting Hill would have allayed their fears, because she'll be hopefully looking up at a union flag rather than her native stars-and-stripes come the 2016 Olympics.
Aliya's grant is recognition of her status as Britain's number two for her age group at sabre as well as winning the British Youth Championships last month.
For those who wonder what the difference is between sabre, foil and epée, there's a quick-fix guide (right), and Aliya's choice is because, as she put it: 'there's more happening' in sabre than the other two disciplines.
"It's quicker as well," she added. "You have to move your feet all the time. I'm hoping to get to the stage where I don't even think about it.
"My feet will move of their own accord, if you see what I mean, and that will leave me to just concentrate on what's in front of me."
According to the 14-year-old who goes to St Paul's School in Brook Green, she took up fencing to stand out from the crowd, and also because her grandfather had dabbled in the sport.
She does some athletics, but read-ily admits just about all her spare time is spent en garde.
"I think a lot of people see me and think I should go for the more dainty foil rather than the physical sabre," she said.
"But it's very rarely you run out of time in a sabre event as there's so much of the weapon you can use, and you're spending as much time avoiding being hit as trying to score points, and that suits me."
The grant is welcome, but she only half-jokes her parents have already banked it after forking out for equipment, training, travel, and all the add-ons that pile up the cost of being a top fencer.
She said: "But the acknowledgement of what I've achieved is a big thrill, and it makes me all the more determined to do well."
