USA Fencing

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Three legendary fencers whose careers spanned decades. An Olympic gold medalist from Hungary who continued his career in the U.S. A fencer who competed for more than 65 years. Three coaches whose students have achieved success at the highest levels. And a renowned referee, team captain and fencing commentator. 

These nine legends will be celebrated as the USA Fencing Hall of Fame Class of 2025 during the Summer Nationals in Milwaukee in the summer of 2025.

“This year’s class of spectacular athletes, coaches and fencing contributors is a testament to the long and storied history of USA Fencing,” says Hall of Fame Committee Chair Steve Mormando-OLY. “Included are Olympians, Olympic and Pan-Am coaches, world champions, World Cup finalists, Pan-Am medalists, Olympic referees, Olympic captains, and, of course, an Olympic Gold medalist. It is a terrific list of inductees.”

While today’s news is all about celebrating the Class of 2025, we want to give a special shoutout to the Class of 2024, announced around this time last year. That class will be honored this summer at a ceremony in Columbus. Tickets and tables for the 2024 ceremony are now available.

The new inductees are the second class 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.

See the inductees below, followed by a breakdown of the scoring used.

Athletes

• Jim Carpenter OLY: Olympian and multiple Pan American Games medalist who has also significantly contributed as a coach and fencing program director.

• Jane Hall Carter: Fencer whose career spans over four decades including success in NCAA, national, and international competitions, including the Pan American Games.

• Phil Reilly OLY: Three-time Olympian and former team captain whose career includes numerous national and international accolades, including multiple Pan American Games medals.

Legacy

• Dan Magay OLY-HUN: Olympic gold medalist from Hungary who continued his successful career in the United States, winning multiple national titles and representing the U.S. at the World Championships.

Veteran

• Pat Bedrosian: Dedicated fencer for more than 65 years who has earned numerous medals in Veteran World Championships and holds top national rankings in veteran categories.

Coaches

• Amgad Khazbak: Distinguished international and U.S. fencing coach whose students have won over 100 medals in Olympic Games, FIE World Cups and FIE World Championships. Led the U.S. Women’s Foil team to significant success, including a gold medal for his student Lee Kiefer OLY at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

• Semyon Pinkhasov: Coach of multiple national championship teams and Olympians who significantly impacted U.S. fencing since emigrating from the Soviet Union.

• Kornel Udvarhelyi: Celebrated epee coach who has led both Hungarian and U.S. teams to significant international successes, including top finishes at the World Championships and the Olympics.

Contributor

• Jeff Bukantz: Renowned referee and team captain at multiple Olympic Games who has also made substantial contributions to the sport as an author, commentator, and committee member.

From May 13–27, USA Fencing members cast their votes for the Hall of Fame nominees. The voting results, listed below, were then combined with objective scoring based on each nominee’s fencing achievements or, in the case of coaches, the accomplishments of their students.

During the tabulation process, an initial error was identified that impacted the final point totals for two of the coach nominees. This error was discovered after one coach candidate had been notified of their induction into the Hall of Fame. To address this, the Board of Directors took a thoughtful and inclusive approach.

The objective scores were carefully re-verified and retabulated, revealing that two additional coaches had higher combined point totals. Rather than retract the initial induction, the Board decided to honor all three coaches. This decision not only corrected the oversight but also led to a historic outcome: three distinguished and deserving fencing coaches being inducted into the Hall of Fame in a single class.

This inclusive solution highlights USA Fencing’s commitment to fairness and celebrates the remarkable contributions of all our inductees.

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

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

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

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

Here are the results for the nominees. The one who will be inducted is bolded. Note that the Contributor category is elected by votes alone — there is no objective scoring.

Please see the PDFs below for vote totals and objective scoring calculations.

James Carpenter's illustrious fencing career includes competing as an Olympian in the 1996 Atlanta Games, where he narrowly missed an Olympic medal in a sudden death overtime loss in the team epee event. He also captured a silver medal at the 1995 Pan American Games and a bronze in 1991. A consistent top 10 fencer in the U.S. for over a decade, Carpenter has claimed five Team National Championships and two Individual National Silver Medals. His leadership extended off the piste as well, serving as Chairman of the New York Athletic Club's fencing program from 1990 to 1996 and as Director of High Performance for the U.S. Fencing Association. Since 2012, he has been the head coach at Stevens Institute of Technology.

Jane Hall Carter, an alumna of the University of Pennsylvania, has excelled in foil fencing for over 43 years. A three-time NCAA All-American and member of the 1986 NCAA Championship team, she has a storied international career with multiple appearances on Junior, Senior, and Veteran World Championship teams, as well as World University Games and Pan Am Games teams. Notably, she was part of the gold-winning U.S. team at the 1991 Pan American Games and took fifth place at the 1992 Buenos Aires World Cup. Jane was inducted into the PENN Fencing Hall of Fame in 2002, into the PENN Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005, and into the Peabody High School Hall of Fame (for discus!) in 2008.   Jane is a three-time Vet 50 WF National Champion and has qualified for every Veterans World Fencing Championships since 2017, earning Silver Medals twice in the Vet50 WF Individuals, and anchoring the Gold Medal WF Team in 2017.  In that event, Jane scored 23 of the 30 touches for a come from behind, 30-29 win in the semi-finals against Italy. Jane is also a Director of Data Management/Process Lead at IQVIA and is currently pursuing her MBA. Currently serving as NEUSFA Chair, Jane has served non-stop for 28 years as a volunteer for USA Fencing either at the national or local level.  She continues to coach at The Dana Hall School and Tanner City Fencers Club and enjoys family activities with her husband Jim and her children, Liz and Joe.

Phil Reilly's fencing career includes being a member of Olympic teams: 1976 alt.,1980 and 1984  where he was the team captain. A 12-time U.S. National Championship finalist and five-time US National Saber Team Champion for the NYAC. Reilly also achieved multiple New Jersey and North Atlantic/Mid Atlantic Saber Championships. His global presence was felt competing on 6 World Championships and 2 Pan American teams, winning two silver medals in the Pan Am team competition. In 1979 placed second in the NY Martini & Rossi World Cup. Reilly competed in veteran competitions, winning two National Saber Vet 50 championships and a silver at the 2004 Vet World Championship. His contributions to fencing extend beyond competition, currently he is President of the Oregon Fencing Alliance one of the premier sabre clubs, home of many Olympic and world champions.

Dan Magay, an Olympic gold medalist, began his illustrious fencing career in Hungary, winning team saber gold at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and reaching the finals at the 1954 World Championships. Post-Olympics, Magay emigrated to the USA amidst political turmoil in Hungary, furthering his education and fencing career at UC Berkeley. In the U.S., he won three National Individual Saber titles and two team championships with the Pannonia Athletic Club, also representing the U.S. at the 1963 World Championships. 

Patricia Bedrosian, a devoted fencer for more than 65 years, has showcased her prowess in both epee and foil, currently holding the top ranking in Vet 80 Epee and second in Vet 80 Foil in the U.S. A frequent medalist at the Veteran World Championships, her accolades include bronze medals in foil (2005, 2013, 2014) and epee (2012), a silver in individual epee (2015), and a team foil gold (2017). Born in Leamington Spa, England, and educated at Pepperdine University, Bedrosian has enriched her life with pursuits like gardening and family history research, sharing her passion and kindness with the fencing community and her family.

Amgad Khazbak has distinguished himself as a preeminent figure in fencing, both on the international stage and within the U.S. Beginning his career in Egypt as a national team fencer and coach, Khazbak transitioned to the United States, where he has since nurtured some of the country's finest fencers. His students' remarkable achievements include over 100 medals in Olympic Games, World Cups, and World Championships. Notably, he led the U.S. Women’s Foil team to significant success and coached at three Olympic Games, culminating in a gold medal for his athlete Lee Kiefer at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Named USA Fencing’s Coach of the Year in 2012, Khazbak continues to inspire excellence at Bluegrass Fencers Club.

Semyon Pinkhasov, a master of fencing coaching, has shaped champions and contributed significantly to the sport since immigrating to the United States from the Soviet Union in 1977. A graduate of the Moscow Institute of Physical Culture and Sports, Pinkhasov led the New York Fencers’ Club Men’s Foil Team to 10 National Championships and the Women’s Foil Team to six. He coached at the 1984 Olympic Games and multiple Pan American and Maccabiah Games, guiding fencers like Michael McCahey, Sharon Monplaisir, and Jeff Bukantz to national and international success. Beyond the piste, Pinkhasov has engaged in advocacy, notably aiding in his cousin’s emigration from the Soviet Union.

Kornel Udvarhelyi is a celebrated epee coach with a longstanding tenure at New York University, where under his guidance, the fencing teams have consistently achieved top-25 national finishes each year. Starting his U.S. coaching career in 2001, Udvarhelyi has led both men’s and women’s teams to notable successes, including a record number of victories and top finishes at the NCAA Championships. His expertise was recognized early in his U.S. career when he was appointed U.S. National Epee Coach in 2003. Before his time in the U.S., he significantly contributed to fencing in Hungary, developing programs and coaching the Hungarian Junior National Men's Epee team. 

Jeff Bukantz has refereed or served as USA Team Captain at four Olympic Games and 15 World Championships. A formidable competitor, Bukantz represented the United States at World Championships, Pan American Games, World University Games, and World Maccabiah Games. He served as Olympic team captain in 2004 and 2008 and as an Olympic referee in 1984 and 1996, where he officiated the men’s foil finals. His media presence includes roles as an NBC Olympic analyst and FIE commentator. Bukantz also contributed significantly off the piste as a member of the FIE Rules Commission and USA Fencing High Performance Committee. The son of legendary fencer Danny Bukantz, Jeff has continued his family’s fencing legacy, documented in his book, "Closing the Distance."