USA Fencing

(Brooklyn, N.Y.) – The man and woman who are crowned champions of the Absolute Fencing Gear® New York Grand Prix on Sunday also will take home the Korfanty Cup – an award sponsored by The Mariel Zagunis Women’s Sabre Fund in honor of Ed Korfanty – the coach of two-time Olympic Champion Mariel Zagunis and the reigning World Champion U.S. Women’s Sabre Team.

“Ed is one of the best sabre coaches in the world and every day I am so thankful to have the opportunity to work with him and learn from him,” Zagunis said. “I've worked with Ed for my entire career and owe all of my fencing success to him. To have the perpetual Korfanty Cup award is a way to recognize Ed for his great accomplishments and contributions to the sport of fencing.”

Under Korfanty’s tutelage, the U.S. women became a powerhouse in international saber, winning three Senior World Championship titles (2000, 2005 and 2014) and a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games. Overall, Korfanty’s athletes have won more than 40 medals at the Junior, Senior and Cadet World Championships over the course of a decade.

As the Head Coach of the U.S. Women’s Saber Team at the 2004 Olympic Games, Korfanty led Team USA to history as Mariel Zagunis won the first ever women’s saber title at the Games and Sada Jacobson earned the bronze. Korfanty coached the U.S. women to a 1-2-3 finish at the 2006 Senior World Championships where Becca Ward won gold, Zagunis earned the silver medal and Jacobson took the bronze.

Korfanty was at the helm again in 2008 when Zagunis, Jacobson and Ward swept the podium at the Beijing Olympic Games – a first for an American fencing team – and when the U.S. women earned a bronze medal in the team event just days later.

"USA Fencing is thrilled to be partnering with the Mariel Zagunis Women's Sabre Fund on the Korfanty Cup award,” said USA Fencing Executive Director Kris Ekeren. “Mariel has been a champion for fencing on and off the strip for a career that has spanned more than 15 years and we appreciate all of her support. I can't think of a better way for her to honor her longtime coach, Ed Korfanty."