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Fence With Olympians Clinic Offers Foil Fencers a Chance to Learn From the Best

06/13/2022, 10:15am CDT
By Bryan Wendell

The two-hour clinics, offered this July in Minneapolis, are led by the members of Team USA’s 2022 Senior World Foil Teams.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — To become one of the best foil fencers in the country, start by learning from the best foil fencers in the country.

During this year’s Summer Nationals in Minneapolis, young foil fencers are invited to participate in a pair of Fence With Olympians Clinics, being offered July 7 and 8.

The camps — one for women’s foil and one for men’s foil — will be led by the eight foil fencers on Team USA’s 2022 Senior World Team.

That roster of instructors features five Olympians, including Jackie Dubrovich, Tokyo gold medalist Lee Kiefer and three of the four members of the men’s foil team that earned bronze in Tokyo: Nick Itkin, Gerek Meinhardt and Alexander Massialas. They will be joined by up-and-coming teenagers Chase Emmer, Maia Weintraub and Zander Rhodes — each a junior world medalist making their senior world team debut this season.

The two-hour clinics serve as fundraisers for the foil teams and are a great way to support these skilled fencers on their quest for greatness at the 2022 World Fencing Championships in Cairo and beyond. The $200 fee includes personalized instruction followed by autograph and picture sessions with the athletes.

Judging from past years, it’s hard to tell who enjoys these clinics more: the young participants, who get to meet and learn from some of their fencing heroes, or the senior athletes, who get to spend time with the next generation of fencers.

The clinics are open to fencers in the Y10, Y12, Y14, cadet and junior classifications. To ensure a positive experience for each of the registrants, participation is capped at 50 for each clinic — so act fast if you’re interested.

The Fence With Olympians Clinic started in 2013 as a way to support Team USA foil fencers. Because of the pandemic, the 2020 and 2021 clinics were canceled, meaning the 2022 edition is the first such clinic in three years.

Many successful foil fencers have participated in these clinics. That list includes Emmer, now 17, who attended three times as a young fencer dreaming of one day making the national team.

Ready to learn more? Below, you'll find the basics and links to register.


A young Chase Emmer (left) met Gerek Meinhardt (right) when Emmer was a participant at a past clinic.

Women’s Foil: Fence With Olympians Clinic

Featuring: All four members of the 2022 Women’s Foil Senior World Team:

  • Lee Kiefer
  • Jackie Dubrovich
  • Maia Weintraub
  • Zander Rhodes

When: 2 to 4 p.m. (CDT) on Thursday, July 7

Where: USA Fencing Experience (This is the USA Fencing pop-up shop located at City Center, 33 South Sixth Street, Suite 165, Minneapolis, MN 55402. Registrants should enter on Nicollet Mall between 6th and 7th streets.)

Cost: $200 per fencer, with all proceeds going to support the U.S. women’s foil team.

Register: At this link until July 6.

Men’s Foil: Fence With Olympians Clinic

Featuring: All four members of the 2022 Men’s Foil Senior World Team:

  • Nick Itkin
  • Chase Emmer
  • Gerek Meinhardt
  • Alexander Massialas

When: 2 to 4 p.m. (CDT) on Friday, July 8

Where: USA Fencing Experience (This is the USA Fencing pop-up shop located at City Center, 33 South Sixth Street, Suite 165, Minneapolis, MN 55402. Registrants should enter on Nicollet Mall between 6th and 7th streets.)

Cost: $200 per fencer, with all proceeds going to support the U.S. men’s foil team.

Register: At this link until July 7.

Tag(s): Latest News  2022 Summer Nationals