In August, the Libertarian Party's candidate for Oregon state House of Representatives (District 35) took time to go to Athens for the Olympic Games.

But Cody Mattern, the 23-year-old from Tigard, Ore., wasn't sitting in the stands watching others participate in the games. As one of the best fencers in the world, he was a participant himself -- competing in men's epee, both individual and team.

Mattern is a two-time national fencing champion. He began fencing nine years ago and became U.S. Junior Champion two years later. He also took a silver medal at a Vancouver World Cup event this March, defeating several of the world's best fencers, and was considered a contender for the medals podium in Athens.

The last time an American won an Olympic medal in men's individual epee was in 1928, so hope was high for the U.S. team this year.

But it wasn't to be: Mattern finished in 19th place, losing to a Hungarian fencer in his first round. Later, on the last day of fencing competition at the Games, the U.S. men's team lost to the French team, which went on to win the gold medal.

Since graduating from high school -- he was homeschooled by a friend's parents, with whom he lives -- Mattern has worked as a carpenter. He managed the construction of his fencing club, the North West Fencing Center and is now a fencing instructor at the center.

Fencing appeals to Mattern because it is an individual sport in which there are no excuses: You win or lose based on your individual merit and effort, in a face-off against a sole competitor.

But he also told newspaper reporters in his region that fencing is a good background for a hopeful politician.

"When I compete, I like to know all the options," he told one newspaper reporter. "And I enjoy the problem-solving aspect that is different for every fencer I come up against."

With that in mind, his next major "contest" is facing Republican Suzanne Gallagher, Democrat Larry Galizio, Pacific Green Liz Trojan, Constitution Party candidate Ronald Brower, and independent Diane Mandaville in the Nov. 2 general election for the state House seat.

It's one of the most crowded ballots in the state, for a seat left open when former Rep. Max Williams, a Republican, left the House to head the state's prison system earlier this year.

In a diary he wrote during his stay in Greece, Mattern reminded himself (and those who read the diary, which was published by an Oregon newspaper) that it's easy to get intimidated by a major competition like the Olympics, but a serious competitor must concentrate on the task at hand.

"As I have said before, if you're going to win, you have to beat the best," he wrote the day before facing his Hungarian opponent.

And that's as true in political competition as it is in fencing.