List of fencers

=Fencers & coaches of the Olympic era=

;Austria

* Siegfried Flesch, Austrian saber fencer & Olympic bronze medalist

* Otto Herschmann, Austrian fencer (saber); one of only a few athletes to have won Olympic medals in different sports; won silver medal in sabre team competition in 1912

* Ellen Preis, Austrian fencer (foil), Olympic champion

;Belarus

* Elena Belova (Novikova) - foilist, 1968 individual Olympic Champion, 1969 individual World Champion, member of winning Soviet team at 1968, 1972, and 1976 Olympics and 1970, 1971, and 1974 World Championships

* Alexandr Romankov - foilist, regarded by some as the greatest foilist of the 20th century

* Viktor Sidjak - Olympic (1972) and World (1969) Champion, winner of the 1972 & 1973 World Cup, also member of winning team at 1968, 1976, and 1980 Olympics and at 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, and 1979 World Team Championships; pupil of David Tyshler

;Belgium

* Henri Anspach, Belgian fencer (épée and foil), Olympic champion

* Paul Anspach, Belgian fencer (épée and foil), 2-time Olympic champion

* Jacques Ochs, Belgian fencer (épée), Olympic champion

* Gaston Salmon, Belgian fencer (épée), Olympic champion

;China

* Jin Jing - Chinese wheelchair fencer who became a national celebrity following an incident during the 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay

* Ju-Jie Luan - Chinese fencer & coach, gold medalist for Women's Foil at 1984 Summer Olympics

;Denmark

* Dr. Ivan Osier -- represented Denmark in 7 Olympic Games between 1908 & 1948. Participated in more Olympiads than any other athlete. Won only Olympic medal in 1912, a silver in Individual Epee. Won a total of 25 Danish National Championships in all 3 fencing weapons — foil, epee, and sabre. Was also Scandinavian Foil titleholder in 1920, 1921, 1923, 1927, 1929, and 1931; Epee Champion in 1920; and Sabre Champi­on in 1921, 1923, 1927, 1929, 1931, and 1933.

;Estonia

* Svetlana Chirkova-Lozovaja - The most successful Estonian fencer of the Soviet era. Olympic gold medal for Women's Foil team event at 1968 Summer Olympics, World champion in Women's Foil team event at 1971, silver 1969, individual World Championships bronze medal 1969.

* Kaido Kaabermaa - Estonian épéeist, bronze (1990) & gold (1991) at World Championships team event (as a part of Soviet Union team). Individual World Championships bronze (1999).

;France

* Yves Dreyfus - French fencer (épée), national champion

* Lucien Gaudin - twice World Champion (1905 & 1918), won four Gold and three Silver Olympic medals covering all three weapons

* Laura Flessel-Colovic - French epeeist who, with two gold, a silver and two bronze medals, is current most successful female French sportswoman at the Winter or Summer Olympics.

* Alexandre Lippmann, French fencer (épée), Olympic champion

* Armand Mouyal - French fencer (épée), national champion

* Claude Netter, French fencer (foil), Olympic champion

* Christian d'Oriola - French Olympic and World Champion, named "Fencer of the 20th Century" by the FIE, International Fencing Federation, in 2001. Between 1947 & 1956 won four World Championships & six Olympic Medals, including two individual Gold (foil), one individual silver (foil), two team Gold (foil), and one team Silver (foil). In addition to four time Individual World Champion, four time team World Champion. Renowned for elegant style.

* Jean Stern, French fencer (épée), Olympic champion

;Germany

* Helene Mayer - German-Jewish foilist, won Gold at 1928 Summer Olympics & the 1929 World Championship, left for US in 1931, returned to represent Germany in 1936 Summer Olympics and won Silver, went back to US and was granted US citizenship, returned to Germany in 1952 and died of cancer in 1953, won US Championships 8 times

;Great Britain

* Pierre Harper 1978, 82 and 86 Commonwealth foil gold medallist and six time British Mens Foil Champion, 3 times Olympian.

* Bill Hoskyns- 1958 World Epee Champion, Olympic Team Silver Medallist in 1960 and Individual Silver Medallist in 1964. Fenced in the Olympics a record six times (1956-1976), twice at all three weapons. 8 times British Champion, won 4 Commonwealth Gold medals and 1 silver at different weapons on separate occasions. The last British fencer to win an Olympic medal.
* Robert Bruniges - World Junior Foil Champion 1976, 3-time Olympian

* Richard Cohen - 5-time British sabre Champion, best known today as the author of "By the Sword", highly acclaimed book on the history of fencing

* Allan Jay - Epee & foil fencer; 4-time national champion

* Richard Kruse - Foilist, the most successful male British fencer for several decades, reached quarter-finals (L8) at the 2004 Summer Olympics, in 2006 won silver medal in Men's Foil at European championships, pupil of Ziemowit Wojciechowski

* Barry Paul - Foilist, 5-time British national Champion, 3-time Olympian and Managing Director of the only manufacturer of fencing equipment in the UK,

* Edgar Seligman - won British championship twice in each weapon

* James Williams - Sabreur, reached L16 at the 2000 Summer Olympics, known for flamboyant fencing style & fitness level, recently retired from competitive fencing

* Alex O'Connell Sabreur, Cadet Champion in 2005, ranked as Junior World number 1 for a while in 2007, only Brit to qualify for 2008 Beijing Olympics via zonal qualification in Europe

;Hungary

* László Borsody, Hungarian fencing master

* Ilona Elek, Hungarian fencer (foil), two-time Olympic champion

* Sándor Erdös, Hungarian fencer (épée), Olympic champion

* Dezsö Földes, Hungarian fencer (saber), Olympic champion

* Péter Fröhlich - Hungarian master & Olympic coach

* Jenö Fuchs, Hungarian fencer (saber), Olympic champion

* Támas Gábor, Hungarian fencer (épée), Olympic champion

* János Garay, Hungarian fencer (saber), Olympic champion

* Oskar Gerde, Hungarian fencer (saber), Olympic champion

* Aladar Gerevich - Hungarian sabreur; only athlete to win the same Olympic event six times.

* Pál Kovács, Hungarian fencer (saber), six-time Olympic champion

* Sándor Gombos, Hungarian fencer (saber), Olympic champion
* Arpad Horvath, Hungarian fencer (epee) Won Hungarian Nationals in every single age group.Junior World Champion. Won multiple World cup events. USA NCAA Champion

* Rudolf Karpati - 6-time Olympic & 7-time World sabre Champion

* Endre Kabos, Hungarian fencer (saber), Olympic champion

* Kárman Leung - Hungarian fencer (saber), National amateur champion

* Daniel Magay, Hungarian fencer (saber), Olympic champion

* Ferenc Marki, Hungarian fencing master

* Attila Petschauer, Hungarian fencer (saber), Olympic champion

* György Piller. Hungarian fencer, Olympic champion and coach, fencing master

* Zoltan Ozoray Schenker, Hungarian fencer (saber and foil), Olympic champion

* Istvan Szelei, Hungarian fencer (Foil), 1980 & 1988 Olympic Squads.

* László Szabó - Hungarian master; defined a system for developing coaches and wrote "Fencing and the Master"; the only direct student of the legendary Italo Santelli to write of what he learned. Teacher of Olympic & World champions.

* Ildiko Uslaky-Rejtoe, Hungarian fencer (foil), 2-time Olympic champion

* Bela Valter - Hungarian master & Olympic coach

* Zsolt Vadaszffy - Hungarian Foil Champion and British Professional Epee Champion. Senior Coach to British Under-20 team for 8 years.

* Imre Vass - authored widely read guide to épée fencing

* Lajos Werkner, Hungarian fencer (saber), Olympic champion

* Francis Zold (1904-2003) - Hungarian fencing master and legendary promoter & teacher of fencing in post-war US; student of Italo Santelli; served as captain of Hungarian fencing team at London Olympics in 1948. Emigrated to United States following Soviet invasion of Hungary in 1956, and worked as fencing coach at a number of colleges and universities, including the University of Southern California and Pomona College in Claremont, CA. Died in 2003 at the age of 99.

* Bence Szabó, Hungarian fencer (sabre), two-time Olympic champion

* Tímea Nagy, Hungarian fencer (épée), two-time Olympic champion

;Israel
* Boaz Ellis, at foil, 5-time Jewish Israeli national champion, and 3-time NCAA champion after his junior year at Ohio State University.

* Andre Spitzer (1945 – September 6, 1972), Jewish Israeli fencing master & coach of Israel's 1972 Summer Olympics team. One of 11 athletes and coaches taken hostage and subsequently murdered by Palestinian terrorists in the Munich massacre.

;Italy

* Edoardo Mangiarotti; has won the most Olympic titles and World championships than any other fencer in the history of the sport; a member of the Mangiarotti fencing clan.

* Aldo Nadi - won gold & silver medals at 1920 Olympics, during the Mussolini years emigrated to US, where he penned the influential "On Fencing" and his autobiographical notes entitled "The Living Sword," son of Beppe Nadi and brother of Nedo Nadi

* Nedo Nadi - won 6 Olympic Gold medals: three foil, two sabre, and one épée; son of Beppe Nadi and brother of Aldo Nadi

* Giorgio Santelli - born in Hungary, son of Italo Santelli, won Gold at 1920 Olympics as part of the Italian sabre team, emigrated to US in 1924, coach to 5 U.S. Olympic teams, legendary fencing teacher & popularizer, founder of Santelli salle in New York City.

* Italo Santelli - fencing master who revolutionized sabre fencing and developed the modern Hungarian style in the 1920s.

* Giulio Gaudini - won 3 Olympic Gold, 4 Silver and 2 Bronze medals in three Summer Olympic Games (1928 Summer Olympics, 1932 Summer Olympics, 1936 Summer Olympics)

* Antonella Ragno-Lonzi - Individual Foil Olympic Champion 1972 Summer Olympics

* Fabio Dal Zotto - Individual Foil Olympic Champion 1976 Summer Olympics

* Mauro Numa - Individual and Team Foil Olympic Champion 1984 Summer Olympics, Individual and Team Foil World Champion 1985, Team Foil World Champion 1986

* Stefano Cerioni - Individual Foil Olympic Champion 1988 Summer Olympics

* Alessandro Puccini - Individual Foil Olympic Champion 1996 Summer Olympics

* Giovanna Trillini - won 4 Olympic Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze medals in five Summer Olympic Games (1992 Summer Olympics, 1996 Summer Olympics, 2000 Summer Olympics, 2004 Summer Olympics, 2008 Summer Olympics)

* Valentina Vezzali - won 5 Olympic Gold, 1 Silver and 1 bronze medal in four Summer Olympic Games (1996 Summer Olympics, 2000 Summer Olympics, 2004 Summer Olympics, 2008 Summer Olympics)

;Poland

* Jerzy Pawłowski - a fencer and spy, won 5 olympic medals, 19-time world championship medalist (7 gold), in 1967 The International Fencing Federation called him the best fencer in the history of mankind

* Witold Woyda - won 4 olympic medals (2 gold) and 10 world championship medals

* Egon Franke - first gold olympic medalist for Poland in fencing, won 3 olympic medals and 7 world championship medals, coach of the Italian national team in foil

* Wojciech Zabłocki - architect and fencer, participated in four Olympic Games (3 medals), he participated in world championships in fencing and won 4 gold, 1 silver and 4 bronze medals

* Zbigniew Czajkowski - highly respected coach, coached Polish national squad for many years, has written over 25 books, has successful pupils in all weapons, including Ed Korfanty,Egon Franke, Elzbieta Cymerman, Jacek Bierkowski, Bogdan Gonsior, Magdalena Jeziorowska.

*Sylwia Gruchala - women's foil fencer, silver medalist at 2000 Olympic games in team event, bronze medalist at 2004 Olympic games in individual event, individual silver medalist at 2003 World Championship, many-time World Champion in team event.

* Ziemowit Wojciechowski - 3-time Champion of Poland, member of Polish Olympic squad at 1976 Olympics, defected to Great Britain in 1978, where he is renowned as a successful coach, pupils include Richard Kruse, Lawrence Halsted, and Camille Datoo. From 2003-2005 he taught part-time at Highgate School, London.

;Portugal

* Miguel Gomes - Portuguese fencing master & fencer (épée), national champion.

;Russia

* Serguei Charikov - Jewish Russian sabreur, member of winning Russian teams at 1996, 2000 and 2004 Olympics

* Pavel Kolobkov - épéeist, Olympic Champion 2000, 5-time World Champion (1991, 1993, 1994, 2002, 2005), twice Junior World Champion (1987, 1988), winner of 1999 World Cup

* Grigory Kriss, Soviet fencer (épée), Olympic champion

* Viktor Krovopouskov - sabreur, 4-time Olympic Gold medalist (1976 & 1980 individual, and team), twice individual World Champion (1978, 1982), twice winner of World Cup (1976, 1979)

* Maria Mazina, Jewish Russian fencer (épée), Olympic champion

* Mark Midler - foilist, Jewish Russian member of first generation of internationally successful Soviet fencers, took Gold at 1956 & 1960 Olympics as a part of Soviet team, won four consecutive World Championships (1959-62).

* Vladimir Nazlymov - sabreur/coach, won individual World Championship in 1975 & 1979 and the World Cup in 1975 & 1977, took team Gold at 1968, 1976, and 1980 Olympics, and at 1967, 1969-71, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1979 World Championships, twice named world's best sabre fencer by the FIE, currently head fencing coach of The Ohio State University fencing team.

* Boris Onishchenko - modern pentathlete, individual silver medallist and team gold medallist in 1972, disqualified in 1976 for using a rigged weapon

* Stanislav Pozdniakov - sabreur, Olympic (1996) & World (1997, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007) Champion, 7-time winner of the World Cup (1994-96, 1999-2002), member of winning Russian sabre team at 1992, 1996, 2000, and 2004 Olympics, and at 1994, 2001, 2002, and 2003 World Championships

* Mark Rakita - Jewish Russian sabreur, twice Olympic Champion (1964, 1968), World Champion in 1967, David Tyshler's pupil and a highly successful coach in his own right (pupils include Victor Krovopouskov, Michail Burtsev, and Viktor Sidjak)

* Alexander Romankov – Russian foilist, 10-time World Champion

* Yakov Rylsky - Jewish Russian sabreur, twice Olympic (1964, 1968) and 3-time World (1958, 1961, 1963) Champion, represented USSR over a period of 14 years (1953-66)

* Sergey Sharikov - Jewish Russian sabreur, twice Olympic Champion (1996, 2000)

* Viktor Sidjak - Soviet sabreur, 4-time Olympic Gold medalist

* Vladimir Smirnov - foilist, won individual Gold at 1980 Summer Olympics, won world championships in 1981, died at 1982 World Championships in Rome, when a broken blade went through his mask causing a fatal brain injury (through the left eye orbit--not the eye itself); his death prompted an extensive review of safety standards in fencing. Most notably it led to stronger masks (the mesh must withstand a 12 kg probe on a regular mask, 25 kg on an FIE mask. Smirnov's mask at the time of his injury was less than half as strong as the non-FIE masks of today when he obtained it. By the time of his injury, it had likely deteriorated from use and was even weaker) 800 Newton resistant fabric in the jacket, underarm protector, and knickers (1600 N in the mask bib) maraging steel blades in foil and epee (which, contrary to fencing urban myth, are not designed to "break flat." They simply break less frequently than carbon steel blades) and various rules re-clothing overlap and placement of zippers and seams. All of these changes were designed to minimize the chance of a blade getting through the protective clothing. Tragic though his death was, it ultimately resulted in making the sport statistically safer than golf.

* David Tyshler - Jewish Russian sabreur, member of the first generation of internationally successful Soviet fencers, won medals at 1956 Olympics and 5 World Championships, best known for his achievements as a coach, one of the founding fathers of the Soviet school of fencing, pupils include Mark Rakita, Viktor Sidjak, and Victor Krovopouskov

* Eduard Vinokurov - Jewish Russian sabreur, twice Olympic Champion (1968, 1976)

* Iosif Vitebskiy - Jewish Russian epee fencer, 19-time national championship medalist

;South Korea

* Young Ho Kim - Olympic foil Champion 2000. Additionally, was down 11-3 to Sergei Golubitsky in the third and final period of the men's foil gold medal bout at 1997 World Championships. Since the necessary score to reach to win was 15 touches, most people would consider Kim to be fencing for pride at this point. Instead, he rallied and scored 8 touches in a row on Golubitsky -- seven of them being one-light hits -- to tie it up at 11 all. They then traded touches until Golubitsky won his first of three world titles 15-14.

;Sweden

* Johan Harmenberg, Swedish fencer (épée), Olympic champion

;Turkey

* Cem Salur, Turkish fencer (foil,épée) and Turkish Fencing Association champion

;Ukraine

* Sergei Golubitsky - World foil Champion 1997, 1998, 1999; Winner of 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1999 World Cup, Olympic Silver Medalist 1992.

;United States of America

* Muriel Bower accredited first woman fencing master in the United States. Women's foil coach to the American team at the 1964 Olympic Games fencing events in Tokyo, managed the American women's fencing team at the World University Games, Russia, 1973, and served in protocol to fencing at the L.A. Olympic Games, 1984. She has subsequently served as West Coast Vice-President of the USFA Coaches Association for two terms, and also as President of Western Regional Intercollegiate Fencing Championships, USFA.

* Maitre Michel Alaux (1924-1974), French-American fencing master & author who bridged Classical and Modern Olympic fencing; in France, trained legendary French foilist Christian d'Oriola; invited to US & served 3 times as US Olympic coach (1964, 1968, 1972); coached several US Nationals; played key role in developing official standards for US fencing; developed professional requirements for US fencing masters & fencing master’s diploma; wrote about fencing; promoted fencing in commercial media; awarded Bronze (1949) & Gold (1952) Medal of Honor by French Govt.; inducted into Ordre des Palmes Academiques (1962); US Fencing Hall of Fame (2006).

* Norman Armitage, 17-time national sabre champion

* Albert Axelrod, Jewish American bronze medallist in the 1960 Summer Olympics in foil

* Abraham Balk, only man to win both foil & epeé NCAA championships (1947)

* Cliff Bayer, 4-time US foil champion

* Tamir Bloom, 2-time US epee champion

* Daniel Bukantz, Jewish American Olympian, U.S. Foil Fencer, Member of Jewish Sports Hall of Fame

* Delmar Calvert, personal coach for 17 national champions, former coach of Los Angeles Athletic Club

* Gay Jacobsen D'Asaro, 1976, 1980 Olympian U.S. Women's Foil Fencer (now Gay MacLellan)

* Michael D'Asaro Sr.

* Csaba Elthes, legendary coach to 6 U.S. Olympic teams, immigrated from Hungary

* Nick Evangelista, specializes in early 20th Century fencing, calling it 'classical' to distinguish it from current sport fencing.

* Sada Jacobson, Jewish American silver medalist in the 2008 Summer Olympics and bronze medalist in the 2004 Summer Olympics and in Sabre; first American female to be ranked # 1 in the world, and the second American ever to be ranked # 1 in the world. Member of the bronze medal winning U.S. women's sabre team at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

* Dan Kellner, US foil champion

* Ed Korfanty, U.S. National women's sabre team coach. Formerly Polish national coach. Coach to 7 x Jr. World Sabre Champion Olympic Gold medallist & 2006 NCAA Champion Mariel Zagunis, 2004 Cadet Sabre champion, Caitlin Thomas, 2006 Cadet & Jr. World Champion Rebecca Ward, 2000 and 2005 U.S. World Champion sabre team. 2002, 2003, and 2006 World Veterans Champion in Men's sabre.

*Allan Kwartler, US foil & sabre fencer, winner of gold medals in Pan American Games and Maccabiah Games

* Fred Linkmeyer

* Michael Marx 5-time Olympian, Epee & Foil Coach, National Champion

* Helene Mayer, German & US fencer (foil), Olympic champion

* Sharon Monplaisir

* Lisa Piazza, member, 1985 U.S. World Championship team; first alternate, U.S. team, 1988 Olympics. [ [http://www.barnard.columbia.edu/newnews/news022006b.html Barnard College Newscenter ] ]

* Janice Romary, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1960, 1964, 1968 Olympian U.S. Foil Fencer.

* Jason Rogers, member of the silver medal winning U.S. men's sabre team at the 2008 Summer Olympics

* Giorgio Santelli, legendary coach to 5 U.S. Olympic teams (1928-52), Olympic Gold Medalist (1920 Men's Sabre Team), son of Italo Santelli (known as the "father of modern saber fencing" and an Olympic silver medal winner), fought duel after his father was insulted by Italian team Captain.

* Maitre Michel Sebastiani coached fencing at Princeton University from 1982-2006, and before that coached fencing at Brooklyn College, New York University (NYU), and Cornell. Coached his teams to 11 national championships. In 1994 and again in 2006 was named the most outstanding Coach of the Year by U.S. Fencing Coaches Association (USFCA). Developed 5 NCAA individual men's champions and 3 NCAA individual women's champions. Was a 1960 French Modern Pentathlon Olympic Team selection.

* Keeth Smart, first American to be ranked # 1 in the world, member of the silver medal winning U.S. men's sabre team at the 2008 Summer Olympics, member of 2004 gold medal US Men's Sabre team at World Cup

*Jonathan Tiomkin, 2-time US foil champion

*Jed Dupree, 2001 NCAA Men's Foil Champion, 2002 US National Champion, 2003 Pan American Gold Medal, 2004 Olympian in Athens

*Rebecca Ward, bronze medalist in the 2008 Summer Olympics in women's sabre, 2005 FIE Jr. World Champion at age 15. Member of the bronze medal winning U.S. women's sabre team at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Part of U.S. Sr. Women's Sabre team that took 2005 World Championship title (other members were Sada Jacobson, Caitlin Thompson, and Mariel Zagunis. 2006 Cadet World Champion, 2006 Jr. World Champion, 2006 Jr. World Champion Team member, 2nd fencer in history to win 3 world titles in one season (Teammate Zagunis was the first).

* Peter Westbrook, bronze medallist in the 1984 Summer Olympics, 13-time US National Men's Sabre Champion, author of "Harnessing Anger", founder of the Peter Westbrook Foundation, teaching and helping youth through sport.

* Mariel Zagunis, two-time Olympic gold medalist in women's sabre (in the 2008 Summer Olympics and in the first-ever women's sabre event at the 2004 Summer Olympics); first American woman to win gold; first American to win gold since 1904. Member of the bronze medal winning U.S. women's sabre team at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

* Julia Jones Pugliese first U.S. women's intercollegiate fencing champion (1929), founded the Intercollegiate Women's Fencing Association (with Dorothy Hafner and Elizabeth Ross), first woman coach of an international US fencing team, coached NYU women's team 1932-38, and Hunter team from 1956-93

Fencing masters of the pre-Olympic era

* Camillo Agrippa
* Domenico Angelo
* Rocco Bonetti
* Ridolfo Capo Ferro
* Guillaume Danet
* Salvator Fabris
* Thibault Girard
* Giacomo di Grassi
* Achille Marozzo
* Vincentio Saviolo
* George Silver
* Andre Wernesson

Famous duelists and fencing enthusiasts

* Karl Marx
* Otto von Bismarck
* Tycho Brahe
* George Byron
* Winston Churchill
* René Descartes
* Bruce Dickinson
* Albrecht Dürer
* Jean-François Lamour
* Colonel Thomas Hoyer Monstery
* Benito Mussolini
* George S. Patton - General and U.S. Army Master of the Sword. Designer of the Model 1913 Cavalry Saber. 1912 Stockholm Olympics in the first modern pentathlon competition (Ranked 1st in fencing - 8th overall).
* José Rizal
* Theodore Roosevelt

References