USA Fencing

HOMETOWN: 
Livingston, N.J.

BIRTH DATE: 
May 21, 2000

Event: Saber
Education: Harvard University, Livingston High School
Club: Manhattan Fencing Center
Coaches: Yury Gelman & Andrew Lamianski
Hobbies: Piano, art, drawing, reading, Zumba, cycling, skiing, swimming ... Also speaks fluent Russian (her first language) at home with her parents ... Practiced ballet for five years. 

Fencing origin story: "I was a very energetic kid, so I tried a lot of sports such as ballet, tennis and swimming. However, none of these truly piqued my interest. (I got kicked out of ballet class for talking too much!) In 2008, I discovered fencing when I saw my great uncle and future coach, Yury Gelman, on TV after the U.S. Men's Saber Team medaled at the Olympics. After witnessing something so unique and beautiful, I was hooked!"

Why I love fencing: "It is the perfect mix of athleticism, creativity, and strategy. As my coach says, fencing is all about setting up "traps" and tricking your opponent. It truly is a game of physical chess."

Advice: "Find your why! Passion goes a long way, so find what motivates you. Enjoy the process! Take risks and embrace losses because they are the best opportunity to learn."

Senior World Championship Teams: 2023, 2022

Personal: A former ballet dancer, Tartakovsky’s parents wanted her to find a sport that incorporated the elegance and grace from ballet that would also be a challenging sport that would build character. When she tried fencing, she instantly loved the sport’s uniqueness and excitement level.

Tartakovsky’s older sister, Gabby, also was a highly ranked junior who went on to fence for Harvard. Elizabeth says she looks up to her sister who has always encouraged her fencing career.

After winning bronze in the team event at the Junior Worlds in 2016, Tartakovsky won individual bronze at the Cadet Worlds in 2017. Although she competed at the 2016 Junior Worlds, the 2017 event marked her first Cadet Worlds. In 2018, Tartakovsky returned to the Junior World Team, winning silver in the team event. 

Tartakovsky represents Manhattan Fencing Center where she says she has “been lucky enough to train alongside [Olympic medalists] Monica Aksamit and Dagmara Wozniak who have been great role models, mentors and friends all along.”

Notable results: 

• 2022 NCAA Champion (Harvard)
• Won her first senior individual medal (a bronze) at the 2023 Tashkent World Cup