Benitez stays close to her roots

Venezuelan fencer Alejandra Benitez balances the demands of her sport with her charity work in the favelas (slums) of Caracas and a career in politics, yet the 36-year-old has no intention of slowing down after the Rio Olympics.

The saber specialist and former Venezuela sports minister is instead determined to inspire the next generation of fencers through her work with the underprivileged in the violent shanty towns of the country's capital.

"My first home was in Caracas' favelas," said Benitez, who is making her fourth consecutive appearance at an Olympics.