ELSAYED EMARA
Owner and head fencing coach at Peoria Fencing Academy, where I developed, managed and instructed a competitive fencing program. My fencers have competed at the national level in Division I tournaments and the international level. I have also guided my fencers through the NCAA eligibility process and instructed them in NCAA Division I by-laws. My students have attended elite colleges.
I taught fencing for three years at the undergraduate level in the Physical Education Department at Illinois Central Community College. I was solely responsible for developing the course curriculum, teaching the course, and evaluating the students. I have promoted professional fencing activities by hosting a U.S. Fencing Coaches Association Clinic and a certified Referee Clinic at Peoria Fencing Academy. I also served on the Conference Committee for the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association for five years, and I am currently the vice president of the Midwest Fencing Coaches Association.
Throughout my Twenty years coaching career, I have had the opportunity to train and mentor many competitive fencers who have become highly distinguished athletes at the national and international levels. As a former National Egyptian Fencing Team member, I know what it takes to be an elite fencer.
Coach Emara competed for Egypt for over 20 years on the National Egyptian Fencing Team. He placed 8th in the Junior World Championship in 1988. He qualified for the 1996 Olympics as a member of the Egyptian team.
ZEYAD ELASHRY
Coach Zeyad Elashry has been a competitive fencer for more than 20 years and a coach for more than five years. Most recently, Zeyad has been a coach at Fencing Sports Academy in Fairfax, VA, since 2014, where he taught classes and gave private lessons to a range of students ranging from beginners to nationally competitive athletes. Zeyad was also an Assistant Coach at Johns Hopkins University, where he coached the first athlete in 11 years to qualify for the NCAA Championships. His passion for the sport and his ability to engage with children has been a formula for success.
As an athlete competing in the United States, Zeyad is currently on the Senior National Points List and ranked as high as #5. He has had seven Top 8 finishes in the past five years.
Before arriving in the US, Zeyad fenced in Egypt, where he first qualified for the national team at age 13 and subsequently qualified for Junior and Senior national teams. He enjoyed top results on an international level, including silver on the European Circuit in 2002, bronze at a Cadet World Cup in 2003, 8th place at the Junior World Championships in 2004, gold at the Arabian Championships in 2006, and gold at the African Championships in 2007.
Zeyad qualified for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing but could not participate due to injury.
