Hope in Fencing: How Goals Shape Mindset, Motivation, and Performance Among Male Fencers

Hope is a key factor in sports psychology, influencing motivation, goal achievement, and resilience. While hope has been studied in various sports, its role in Fencing—a sport requiring rapid decision-making and psychological endurance— remains unexplored. This study examines how hope and nonspecific goal-setting impact fencers’ performance. This qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews with seven male fencers (aged 15–17 years) from California. The study uses thematic analysis to identify the common patterns related to hope, goal-setting, and psychological strategies in competition. Hope emerges as a key motivator, helping fencers maintain confidence, reframe setbacks, and balance emotional regulation. The major themes include hope as a driving force in performance; the psychological battle beyond the physical effort; progress as a journey, not a destination; resilience in the face of defeat; the role of community support in perseverance; the balance between confidence and humility; and the power of discipline and strategy. Hope plays a crucial role in fencing and enhancing motivation, strategic adaptability, and resilience. The results have implications for developing hope-based training strategies to improve fencers’ performance and stress management. Future research should explore gender differences and the long-term effects of hope interventions in individual sports.