Famous Russian Fencers

Vladimir Viktorovich Smirnov was a highly accomplished Soviet foil and épée fencer. Throughout his career, he achieved remarkable success, including winning the 1980 Olympic gold medal in men's foil and becoming the world champion in men's foil in 1981. His exceptional skills and dedication to the sport made him a respected figure in the fencing community. Tragically, his career was cut short when he was accidentally killed during a bout at the 1982 World Fencing Championships in Rome, Italy.

Inna Vasilyevna Deriglazova is a highly accomplished Russian right-handed foil fencer with an impressive track record in international competitions. She has secured numerous titles, including multiple European and world championships. As a three-time Olympian, Deriglazova has excelled on the Olympic stage, winning team and individual medals in various editions of the Games. Her professional career is characterized by consistent success and a reputation as one of the top fencers in the world, showcasing her skill, determination, and competitive spirit.

Yana Egorian is a prominent Russian left-handed sabre fencer with an impressive list of accomplishments. She has secured numerous titles including six team European championships, two team world championships, and the individual Olympic championship in 2016. Egorian's skill and dedication have made her a respected figure in the world of fencing. Her success on the international stage, particularly at the Olympic Games, has solidified her reputation as a top athlete in the sport.

Timur Marselevich Safin is a highly accomplished Russian right-handed foil fencer with a successful professional career. He has secured numerous prestigious titles, including being a two-time team European champion and 2016 individual European champion. Safin has also represented Russia at the Olympic Games, winning a team silver medal in 2021, achieving team gold and individual bronze medals in 2016. He is affiliated with the Central Sports Army Club and the Ufa Fencing Sports School of Olympic Reserve, showcasing his dedication to the sport at both club and national levels.

Vladimir Aliverovich Nazlymov is a former sabre fencer and coach known for his success in both the USSR and the United States. He achieved three team Olympic sabre gold medals and served as the head coach of the Soviet Union Military Fencing Team for 14 years. Later, he coached in the United States, notably for Ohio State University, before retiring amid an NCAA investigation. He now continues his coaching career at the Nazlymov Fencing Foundation, founded by his son and daughter-in-law.

Karina Aznavourian is a renowned Russian épée fencer who has achieved significant success in her professional career. She has represented her country at multiple Olympic Games, winning two gold medals in the team épée event at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics, as well as a bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics. Her exceptional skill, dedication, and competitive spirit have solidified her reputation as one of the top fencers in the world, inspiring aspiring athletes and fans alike.

Valentina Aleksandrovna Prudskova was a successful Soviet fencer, known for her achievements in the sport. She won numerous medals at the world championships as a member of the Soviet foil team and represented her country at the Olympics, winning gold and silver medals in team foil events. Prudskova also had a successful career outside of fencing, graduating with a degree in metal processing and working at a metalworking plant before transitioning to coaching at a sport school. She was recognized for her contributions with awards such as the Order of the Badge of Honour and Medal "For Labour Valour."

Sofiya Aleksandrovna Velikaya is a highly accomplished Russian sabre fencer with an impressive track record in various prestigious competitions. She has been crowned European champion multiple times in both individual and team events, as well as achieving world champion titles in individual and team categories. Velikaya has also secured Olympic team gold medals and individual silver medals across multiple Olympic Games. Notably, she demonstrated sportsmanship and dedication by dedicating her team's 2016 Olympic gold medal to individuals affected by doping bans. Additionally, she has been involved in political activities, being listed as a proxy for a presidential candidate in the Russian election.

Pavel Kolobkov is a retired épée fencer from Russia (and formerly the Soviet Union) with a successful Olympic career spanning from 1988 to 2004. He has won multiple medals at the Olympic Games. Kolobkov has been involved in sports administration, serving as Russia's representative to the World Anti-Doping Agency until being barred in 2015. He later became the Russian Minister of Sport, a position from which he was dismissed in 2020 by President Putin. Kolobkov has also held other high-ranking positions in Russian sports administration.

Stanislav Alekseyevich Pozdnyakov is a former Russian fencer and accomplished Olympian with five Olympic medals in individual and team sabre competitions. He has also achieved success as a ten-time world champion in individual and team events. Pozdnyakov currently serves as the president of the Russian Olympic Committee. However, in 2022, he faced removal as the European Fencing Confederation president due to his actions following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which resulted in a unanimous vote of no confidence.

Elena Belova is a retired Russian foil fencer who achieved remarkable success in her career. She competed in four Olympic Games, winning a total of four gold, one silver, and one bronze medal, making her the first female fencer to secure four Olympic gold medals. Belova also clinched eight world titles, both individually and with the Soviet team. She holds a PhD in Pedagogy and has been recognized with prestigious awards such as the Olympic Order in Silver and the Pierre de Coubertin Medal. Additionally, an asteroid was named in her honor in 2021.

Viktor Alekseyevich Krovopuskov is a retired sabre fencer from Russia who achieved significant success in his career. He began fencing at a young age and went on to join the Armed Forces sports society in Moscow. Krovopuskov was a member of the USSR National Team for over a decade and won gold medals in both individual and team sabre events at the 1976 and 1980 Olympics. He was also a multiple-time world champion and World Cup winner in sabre fencing, receiving prestigious awards for his achievements.

Viktor Sidyak is a retired Russian left-handed sabre fencer renowned for his aggressive fencing style and innovative "one-and-a-half tempo attack" technique. He trained under esteemed fencing coaches Mark Rakita and David Tyshler, honing his skills to become a prominent figure in the sport. Throughout his professional career, Sidyak demonstrated exceptional prowess and strategic acumen, leaving a lasting impact on the fencing community. His legacy continues to inspire aspiring fencers and his contributions have solidified his reputation as a master of sabre fencing.