DURHAM, N.C.- The Duke fencing team is set for this weekend's competition in Evanston, Ill., where they will compete in the Northwestern Duals.  Recently, GoDuke.com sat down with senior saber fencer Becca Ward to learn more about the Olympic bronze medalist and two-time NCAA Champion.

GoDuke.com: What do you have DVR'd?
Becca Ward: The shows I watch are Louie, How I Met Your Mother, Modern Family and Shameless.

GoDuke.com: What embarrassing music do you have on your iPod?
BW: I have a lot of Britney Spears on my iPod. I like to run to a lot of Pop Music.

GoDuke.com: What is your favorite movie?
BW: My favorite movie is the Boondock Saints.

GoDuke.com: What's on your bucket list?
BW: I want to backpack in Europe. I want to go sky diving because I am absolutely terrified by it. I want to have a labradoodle.

GoDuke.com: What's the biggest obstacle you've had to overcome?
BW: I had a lot of knee problems when I was younger, (15, 16) and it persisted pretty much until my second year of college. I had to do a lot of tests on it because I thought I needed surgery. I did a lot of physical therapy and got over that but it was definitely my biggest challenge at Duke.

GoDuke.com: What is your favorite home cooked meal?
BW:  French Toast and scrambled eggs.

GoDuke.com: Can you cook? If so, what do you cook?

BW: I love to cook and I love to bake. I like trying new things so I'm always trying new recipes. I like to bake a lot so always new recipes, but I also make really good brownies.

GoDuke.com: Where do you like to study on campus?
BW: During the year I like to study in the back of the first floor of Perkins. When it gets really crowded I find one of the classrooms in the Sanford School of Public Policy because no one is ever there.

GoDuke.com: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

BW:  I don't know. I want to work with environmental policy but that is a little uncertain for me. Hopefully I'll be somewhere in Washington working, maybe starting a family.

GoDuke.com: Who has had the most impact on your life and why?
BW: I think that's going to be a toss-up between my parents, who've shown me all of the attributes that I want to emulate like hard work, perseverance, and passion no matter what the circumstances, and my coach here , who I feel I owe a lot to, and who works so hard and cares so much for us. Looking back at Duke he is going to be my biggest influence. 

GoDuke.com: Describe your coach in one word.
BW: Meticulous.

GoDuke.com: Who would you trade places with for a day?
BW: That's a scary question because my first instinct is to say something like the Dalai Llama but that's a lot of responsibility when I don't really know what I'm doing so I'm going to say someone ridiculous like Lady Gaga.

GoDuke.com: Who would be your dream date?
BW: Robert Downey Jr. even though he is really old. Like a younger version of Robert Downey jr.

GoDuke.com: What is your favorite restaurant in Durham?
BW: I love Sushi Love. I know that's not the best restaurant but I've been there so many times and have a lot of great memories there.  

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