USA Fencing

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The USA Fencing Hall of Fame Committee has proudly announced the inductees for the Class of 2024. Composed of six athletes and one coach, this group of remarkable individuals will be honored during the 2024 Summer Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.

The new inductees — Joey Brinson PLY, Harold Goldsmith OLY, Marty Lang OLY, Nat Lubell OLY, Stephen Netburn OLY, Nzingha Prescod OLY, and Andrey Geva — are the first to be inducted under a new, Board-approved system that combines objective criteria with the results of a vote from members.

In March 2023, the USA Fencing Board of Directors voted to revise the Hall of Fame criteria to consider objective criteria for selection based on a points system that rewards the accomplishments of prospective inductees before adding in the results of a popular vote among eligible members. 

Through this system, the Hall of Fame induction process becomes more transparent to membership, meaning that selection to the Hall, while still considering the input of membership, is directly linked to the actions of an individual.

You can read those criteria here.

Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing, says that he looks forward to honoring these seven individuals — each a testament to the talent, passion and dedication found within the fencing community.

"Each of these individuals has made exceptional contributions to our sport," he says. "Their dedication, talent and influence are truly inspiring, and it is our honor to acknowledge their achievements by inducting them into the Hall of Fame."

Steve Mormando OLY, a Class of 2020 USA Fencing Hall of Famer and Chair of the Hall of Fame Committee, took the occasion to consider the history-making accomplishments of these inductees. 

“The Hall of Fame Class of 2024 includes individuals that represented the United States in more than 10 Olympics and 10 Pan-Am Games,” he says. “Some of them served in World War II and were part of the Greatest Generation. Nat Lubell was an artist/reporter at the Nuremberg Trials — a reminder that all of these amazing individuals made an impact not only in fencing, but to our country. I am tremendously proud and humbled to be part of this team!” 

The USA Fencing Hall of Fame is one of the highest honors in fencing and recognizes individuals who have made significant impacts on the sport during their careers. 

USA Fencing is excited to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2024 inductees, and we look forward to their official induction next summer.

Joey Brinson PLY, born Aug. 22, 1976, was a celebrated Paralympian and a pioneer in the sport of wheelchair fencing. Paralyzed in an accident at 17, he later discovered wheelchair fencing and made significant strides in the sport, becoming the first Mississippian to make the U.S. Wheelchair Fencing Team and winning several national and international championships. Remembered for his tenacity and spirit, Brinson died on Oct. 4, 2019, leaving a profound legacy in adaptive sports.

Harold "Hal" Goldsmith OLY was an esteemed foil and epee fencer who significantly contributed to the sport in the mid-20th century. A three-time Olympian, he represented the United States in the 1952, 1956, and 1960 Olympic Games and earned recognition with his victories in the NCAA Foil championship and at the Pan American Games. Beyond his personal achievements, Goldsmith's teams from the New York Fencers Club won numerous championships, marking him as a pivotal figure in American fencing history.

Marty Lang OLY is a highly accomplished foil fencer and renowned international foil official, best known for his victories in the Pan American Games and multiple national championships. A 1976 Olympian, Lang's rich fencing career also included several Team USA World Championship and Junior World Championship teams. After his competitive career, Lang has been dedicated to fostering new generations of fencers.

Nathaniel "Nat" Lubell OLY was a distinguished foil fencer and a celebrated artist, well-remembered for his victories in national and international fencing competitions as well as his artistic contributions. As a three-time Olympian, a U.S. National Foil Champion, and a multiple medalist at the 1951 Pan American Games, Lubell left a lasting impact on the sport. Beyond the strip, he designed more than 15 U.S. postage stamps, served as a courtroom artist during the Nuremberg Trials, and had a long affiliation with the New York Fencers' Club, serving as its president in the 1970s.

Stephen Netburn OLY is a notable fencer renowned for his achievements in epee fencing both nationally and internationally. A two-time Olympian and a seven-time U.S. national epee team champion, Netburn also marked significant victories with a U.S. National Epee Championship and gold medals in the 1971 Pan American Games in both individual and team categories. Beyond his competitive accolades, Netburn demonstrated leadership as the Captain of the Penn Fencing Team during his senior year at the University of Pennsylvania.

Nzingha Prescod OLY is a trailblazing fencer and a dynamic social entrepreneur. A two-time Olympian, World Champion and the first Black woman to win an individual medal at the Senior World Championships, she is recognized as one of the most decorated athletes in USA fencing history. Off the strip, she is the founder and CEO of The Prescod Institute for Sport, Teamwork, and Education (PISTE), working tirelessly as a sports equity champion to expand access to sport and advocate for inclusive, high-quality sport education.

Andrey Geva is a seasoned fencing coach with more than 35 years of experience, known for his exceptional talent development skills and leadership of highly competitive epee fencing teams. His career highlights include coaching five world champions, three Olympians, and numerous world cup champions and medalists. Geva is the head coach and owner of Alliance Fencing Academy, one of the most successful fencing clubs in the U.S, and he also served as the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Coach for Team USA Women's Epee.

Here are the results for the nominees. The six who will be inducted are bolded.

Here are the results for the nominees. The one who will be inducted is bolded.

The Hall of Fame Committee did not receive responses from Mr. Lilien or Mr. Cummings, so their objective scores were not included.

Don’t forget: Before we celebrate the Class of 2024 inductees in Columbus, we will be honoring the 2023 inductees at a ceremony on July 5 in Phoenix. More details on the 2023 inductees can be found here.