Direct Elimination Podcast

"I Will Go Through Fire for My Students" - Olympic Coach Igor Gantsevich on Coaching, Immigration & Dynamo Fencing Club | Direct Elimination Ep. 31

Igor Gantsevich took Dynamo Fencing Club and built it into 500+ members after injuries ended his career. His family is the immigrant story driving Canadian fencing forward. The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts. In this episode, you'll discover: • How Igor pivoted from a career-ending wrist injury to building one of North America's largest fencing clubs — with 500+ members, 30 full-time staff, three Vancouver locations, and a new USA location coming soon • The father-son coaching dynamic that shaped Igor's entire philosophy, and why he treats every student like his own child • The Nick Zhang story: the Junior Worlds moment where Igor's sideline emotion may have cost his athlete a bout — and what he said to him afterward • Why Igor believes complacency is a disease, and how that mindset has driven Dynamo's growth, Team Canada's ambitions, and his refusal to ever retire Igor Gantsevich is the President of Dynamo Fencing Club and the High Performance Director of Fencing Canada — a former national team athlete whose competitive career was cut short by injury, who then channeled that drive into building one of the most respected fencing programs in the world. What's the moment — in sport, coaching, or life — where someone told you that you couldn't do it, and you proved them wrong? Tell us in the comments. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Intro 00:03:27 Growing Up: Tennis Dreams and the Accidental Fencer 00:06:19 Rising Through the Ranks: Junior Worlds and the Canadian National Team 00:08:21 Career-Ending Injuries and the Pivot to Coaching 00:12:59 Starting from Scratch: Schools, Outreach, and Early Club Days 00:15:47 The Academy: Fencing as a PE Credit in West Vancouver Schools 00:19:28 Building Dynamo: Size, Staff, and the Austin Expansion 00:26:25 Immigration, Passion, and Coaching Like a Father 00:31:11 The Nick Zhang Story: When Emotion Costs Your Athlete a Bout 00:36:38 Business Lessons: Patience, Belief, Honesty, and Community 00:44:31 The Origin of the Name 'Dynamo' 00:49:26 Goals as a Coach: Olympic Medals, Hunger, and Never Retiring 01:00:03 The Global Fencing Landscape: Asia Rising and North America's Moment 01:05:43 Retaining Athletes Post-College and the Future of Professional Fencing 01:12:15 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Thoughts 💬 BEST QUOTES "One word: immigration. Very simple. We're survivors. We fought for everything that we have" "I will go through fire for my students. And now that I'm high performance director of Team Canada, I'll go through fire for my country." 🔗 Connect with Igor 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/igor_gantsevich/ [https://www.instagram.com/igor_gantsevich/] Connect with Dynamo Fencing Club 🔗 Connect with Colin 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dynamofencing/ [https://www.instagram.com/dynamofencing/] 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dynamofencing [https://www.tiktok.com/@dynamofencing] 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaUEXzPBdw7nsg8VhWGb6bQ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaUEXzPBdw7nsg8VhWGb6bQ] Theme song written and performed by Colin Campbell 🔗 Connect with Colin 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/campbelltunes/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/campbelltunes/?hl=en] Thank you for listening! 🔗 Connect with Us 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple: https://link.me/directeliminationpodcast [https://link.me/directeliminationpodcast] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directeliminationpodcast/  [https://www.instagram.com/directeliminationpodcast/ ] 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@directeliminationpodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@directeliminationpodcast] 📺 Subscribe for more episodes: youtube.com/@directeliminationpodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@directeliminationpodcast] Prieur USA Website: https://www.prieurusa.com/ [https://www.prieurusa.com/] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prieur_usa/ [https://www.instagram.com/prieur_usa/] Edge Spray Website: https://www.edgespray.com/ALL-IN [https://www.edgespray.com/ALL-IN] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edgespray/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/edgespray/?hl=en]

3x Olympian Kat Holmes Used Game Theory to Win a World Championship Gold | Direct Elimination Ep. 30

3-time Olympian & World Champion Kat Holmes used game theory to win. She qualified for the Olympics while surviving medical school on zero sleep. This is an elite competitor.  The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts. In this episode, you'll discover: • How Kat used her Princeton thesis on Nash equilibrium to develop an overtime fencing strategy that helped anchor Team USA to the 2018 World Championship title • What it actually looked like to train for the Olympics while completing medical school — the sleep deprivation, the mental health struggles, and how she got through it • The shocking moment Kat was asked to testify at a legal hearing for the Alan Hadzic safe sport case the night before her Olympic debut at Tokyo • How Kat's biomechanics research on fencing lunges and injury patterns is shaping the future of sports medicine for fencers Kat Holmes is a three-time Olympian (Rio, Tokyo, Paris), 2018 World Championship anchor for Team USA's women's épée squad, four-time NCAA All-American at Princeton, and a practicing medical professional whose scientific research is now focused on the sport she's spent her life mastering. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Introduction 00:04:06 A Nine-Year-Old Who Wanted to Sword Fight 00:06:54 The Distinctive Style 00:09:19 Fencing, Princeton, and the Road to the Olympics 00:13:04 Paris: The Final Hurrah 00:19:34 Tokyo Olympics 00:25:05 Medical School, Mental Health, and Burnout 00:27:54 Leveling Up as a Team 00:29:44 Becoming the Best Anchor in the World 00:32:31 Kat's Winning Thesis 00:35:32 Winning Strategy, Commitment, and Tactical Discipline 00:41:43 Performance Optimization 00:44:14 Biomechanics Research 00:50:03 One Light Answers 00:54:33 Closing Thoughts 💬 BEST QUOTES "I will say that medical school and qualifying for the Olympics was like the hardest. I can't honestly imagine anything harder. I didn't sleep for two years." "I never want to have to wonder, like, what if? What if I had worked harder? What if I had done this? I really wanted to always leave it on the table." "I think at one point I probably was the best anchor in the world for like a little minute." "I don't have an Olympic medal. Do I want one? Yes. Would I like to be Olympic champion? Obviously. But I think, you know, the body of my career more speaks to the heart and soul that I put into it." 🔗 Connect with Kat 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldfencingleague [https://www.instagram.com/katholmes46] Theme song written and performed by Colin Campbell 🔗 Connect with Colin 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/campbelltunes/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/campbelltunes/?hl=en] Thank you for listening! 🔗 Connect with Us 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple: https://link.me/directeliminationpodcast [https://link.me/directeliminationpodcast] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directeliminationpodcast/  [https://www.instagram.com/directeliminationpodcast/ ] 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@directeliminationpodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@directeliminationpodcast] 📺 Subscribe for more episodes: youtube.com/@directeliminationpodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@directeliminationpodcast] Prieur USA Website: https://www.prieurusa.com/ [https://www.prieurusa.com/] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prieur_usa/ [https://www.instagram.com/prieur_usa/] Edge Spray Website: https://www.edgespray.com/ALL-IN [https://www.edgespray.com/ALL-IN] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edgespray/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/edgespray/?hl=en]

World Fencing League Debut: What Happens Next?

World Fencing League finally debuted with the most eyes on fencing since Paris. We break down every match, the $10K prizes, and why the tech disappointed. The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts. In this episode, you'll discover: • Why the WFL debut may be the biggest moment for fencing since the Paris Olympics and what it still needs to fix to become a real league • How $10,000 per match compares to winning an entire World Championship, and what that prize structure means for athlete motivation • A full match-by-match breakdown including Maia Chamberlain's MVP performance, Lee Kiefer's opening bout, and Ryan Choi vs. Miles Chamley-Watson closing the night • Why Dentsu's much-hyped blade-tracking and 3D replay technology fell flat in live execution, and what the WFL must do differently next time Direct Elimination is your home for honest, knowledgeable fencing coverage that doesn't talk down to the sport or the fans. Whether you've been fencing for twenty years or you just found out epee exists, this is the show for you. The World Fencing League just ran its first-ever event, and we give you the complete recap. We celebrate what the WFL got right, call out what it got wrong, and lay out what needs to happen for this league to actually build the fencing audience it's promising. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00:12 Intro 00:02:30 World Fencing League Debut... First Impressions 00:06:29 Cash Prizes: A Game Changer for Fencing 00:09:42 New Rule Sets, Tech, and Fencing's Future 00:12:53 Match 1 Recap 00:18:46 Match 2 Recap 00:21:57 Matches 3 & 4 00:27:47 Match 5 Recap 00:29:55 Match 6 & Closing Ceremony 00:34:27 What Could Have Gone Better 00:38:44 Team Format, Gambling Rollout & Marketing Misses 00:43:59 Commentary Critique 00:47:17 Final Thoughts 💬 BEST QUOTES "if you don't have a crazy chat room on a live stream, then you're not doing it right." "for world championships, if you win the whole tournament you get $40,000 as of last year. but that's a whole tournament. here you fence one equal opponent. And when you're getting $10,000 for one match. Yeah. Those stakes are way crazier." "I think the real winner of the World Fencing League was Maia Chamberlain. Man. She pulled up. She balled out. She gets fighter of the night." World Fencing League Website: https://worldfencingleague.org/ [https://worldfencingleague.org/] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldfencingleague [https://www.instagram.com/worldfencingleague] Theme song written and performed by Colin Campbell 🔗 Connect with Colin 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/campbelltunes/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/campbelltunes/?hl=en] Thank you for listening! 🔗 Connect with Us 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple: https://link.me/directeliminationpodcast [https://link.me/directeliminationpodcast] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directeliminationpodcast/  [https://www.instagram.com/directeliminationpodcast/ ] 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@directeliminationpodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@directeliminationpodcast] 📺 Subscribe for more episodes: youtube.com/@directeliminationpodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@directeliminationpodcast] Prieur USA Website: https://www.prieurusa.com/ [https://www.prieurusa.com/] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prieur_usa/ [https://www.instagram.com/prieur_usa/] Edge Spray Website: https://www.edgespray.com/ALL-IN [https://www.edgespray.com/ALL-IN] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edgespray/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/edgespray/?hl=en]

World Fencing League: Publicity Stunt or Fencing's Future?

World Fencing League debuts, but is it fencing's future or just hype? We break down Miles Chambley-Watson, blade tracking tech & bold predictions. The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts. In this episode, you'll discover: - Why Miles Chamley-Watson is both the perfect and most controversial choice as the face of the World Fencing League, and what his various sponsorships says about fencing's mainstream potential. - How Dentsu's blade tracking technology works, what it means for spectators trying to understand the sport of fencing, and why it could have implications far beyond fencing - Why Lee Kiefer, arguably the greatest U.S. fencer of all time, has received almost zero marketing ahead of this debut, and what that says about the league's storytelling woes - Full match-by-match predictions for Team Blade vs Team Shield across all six bouts, plus an honest verdict on whether the World Fencing League can actually move the needle for the sport This episode covers the World Fencing League's debut event from every angle: the format, the athletes, the tech, the missed opportunities, and the genuine hope that this could be a transformative moment for professional fencing. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:50 Miles-Chamley Watson 00:07:07 Early Impressions 00:08:24 Breaking Down the ormat 00:10:32 Dentsu Explained 00:11:33 Good or Bad Strategy? 00:15:05 Marketing Failures 00:23:05 Scheduling 00:26:04 Dragging Fencing Into the Future 00:30:35 Match Predictions 00:33:52 Building Legitimacy 00:37:04 Final Verdict 💬 BEST QUOTES "I grew up absolutely idolizing this guy [Miles]. He is one of, if not the most recognizable fencer in the world, really trailblazing in terms of sponsorships." "Lee Kiefer is arguably on the Mount Rushmore for women's foil all time. She's an incredibly. Rushmore. Incredibly accomplished athlete, incredible representative of the sport, the best U.S. fencer of all time, full stop. And there's been barely any marketing about her." "This is one of the really exciting things about this event. It's an attempt to drag fencing into the future. The FIE has had many opportunities and has continued to fall short on them." "How cool is it that fencing is going to be live on streaming platforms everywhere, outside of the Olympics? And it's not going to be a blurry YouTube feed that USA fencing is putting out." World Fencing League Website: https://worldfencingleague.org/ [https://worldfencingleague.org/] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldfencingleague [https://www.instagram.com/worldfencingleague] Theme song written and performed by Colin Campbell 🔗 Connect with Colin 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/campbelltunes/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/campbelltunes/?hl=en] Thank you for listening! 🔗 Connect with Us 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple: https://link.me/directeliminationpodcast [https://link.me/directeliminationpodcast] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directeliminationpodcast/  [https://www.instagram.com/directeliminationpodcast/ ] 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@directeliminationpodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@directeliminationpodcast] 📺 Subscribe for more episodes: youtube.com/@directeliminationpodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@directeliminationpodcast] Prieur USA Website: https://www.prieurusa.com/ [https://www.prieurusa.com/] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prieur_usa/ [https://www.instagram.com/prieur_usa/] Edge Spray Website: https://www.edgespray.com/ALL-IN [https://www.edgespray.com/ALL-IN] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edgespray/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/edgespray/?hl=en]

Mohamed El-Sayed: The Story of Super Mo and His Rise to World Fencing Dominance | Direct Elimination Ep. 29

Mohamed El-Sayed has emerged from young underdog to the #1 Ranked Men's Epee Fencer in the World. He explains the "One Man Job" mindset that he credits this success to. The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts. In this episode, you'll discover: • How Mohamed El-Sayed cleared his furniture, trained alone for 8–9 months during COVID, and emerged as Egypt's national number one — the turning point that launched everything • Why Mohamed says he's genuinely in love with every part of the process — visa struggles, solo travel, and all — and how that mindset keeps him performing at the top • The psychology behind the "Super Mo" alter ego, where it came from, and why having a competition identity changed everything for him mentally Mohamed El-Sayed is a Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medalist and current World #1 in men's epee fencing, all at the young age of 23 and a promising future ahead of him.  What part of Mohamed's story hit hardest for you — the COVID training grind, the solo travel with no support, or the Super Mo mindset? Drop it in the comments below. ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00:00 Introduction & Mohamed's Athletic Background 00:09:57 Covid Lockdown: The Career Turning Point 00:15:34 Dad as Coach: Family Dynamics & the El-Sayed Fencing Dynasty 00:26:31 Moving to NYC Alone & Building the One Man Formula 00:43:48 The Visa Struggle Nobody Talks About 00:52:43 Tokyo Olympics: Losing and Knowing It's Only a Matter of Time 01:01:07 Balance, Faith, and Finding Your Own Formula 01:17:44 The Origin of Super Mo 💬 BEST QUOTES "I just didn't want to go, oh, like I'm an Olympian, you know, at 18 years old. No. I wanted to actually actually do something." "I have the plan. I do the work. And when I went to the Olympic Games, you know, it all pays off." "I know my worth. I know it might take time. Three years, four years, but I know I'll be there, you know? So I'm just putting in the work, work, work." "I'm in love with the process. I'm really, really enjoying what's happening. The training, my competitions, my visa process, my travels. I'm enjoying it. I really live in the present and I'm enjoying it. I'm thankful." Theme song written and performed by Colin Campbell 🔗 Connect with Colin 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/campbelltunes/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/campbelltunes/?hl=en] 🔗 Connect with Mo 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_supermooo/ [https://www.instagram.com/_supermooo/] 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamsupermooo [https://www.youtube.com/@iamsupermooo] Thank you for listening! 🔗 Connect with Us 🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple: https://link.me/directeliminationpodcast [https://link.me/directeliminationpodcast] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directeliminationpodcast/  [https://www.instagram.com/directeliminationpodcast/ ] 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@directeliminationpodcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@directeliminationpodcast] 📺 Subscribe for more episodes: youtube.com/@directeliminationpodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@directeliminationpodcast] Prieur USA Website: https://www.prieurusa.com/ [https://www.prieurusa.com/] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prieur_usa/ [https://www.instagram.com/prieur_usa/] Edge Spray Website: https://www.edgespray.com/ALL-IN [https://www.edgespray.com/ALL-IN] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edgespray/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/edgespray/?hl=en]