Yury Gelman

				Position: Head Coach

Yury Gelman is in his 14th season as head coach of the Red Storm fencing teams. Over the last decade, Gelman has built a legacy as one of the top fencing coaches in the world, with success in both the United States and abroad. His collegiate teams consistently finish among the nation's elite and many of his players have collected world championship titles and gold medals.

Gelman and alumnus Keeth Smart were among the 500 Olympic participants that competed in Beijing, China in August and September. The U.S. men's sabre team, led by Gelman, captured its first fencing medal in the team championship since 1984, winning the silver. Fencers Smart, Tim Morehouse, James Williams and Jason Rogers defeated Hungary and Russia to advance to the gold medal match. Gelman, a three-time Olympic coach, the U.S. men's sabre coach since 2000 and the Manhattan Fencing Center's founder, helped lead the team in its historic run as the squad achieved its best finish ever at the Olympics. The entire sabre team trained out of Gelman's fencing center in Manhattan.

The U.S. Team finished the 2008 Olympic Games with 203 top-8 finishes, seven more than the total the team earned at the 2004 Olympic Games. The 203 top-8 finishes placed Team USA first, 34 ahead of China's 169, with Russia third at 165.

Gelman was present when Mayor Bloomberg honored New York's Olympic athletes two weeks after the Games were officially over. Ten New Yorkers and five coaches were presented with Tiffany's crystal apples, which represented the United States and New York City at the Summer Olympics in Beijing. Ending his Olympic experience, Gelman and the 2008 U.S. Olympic teams that competed in Beijing, China, met President George W. Bush at the White House to celebrate the teams' performances.

The Red Storm had a remarkable outing at the 2008 NCAA Championships, finishing fifth nationally to cap a standout season. St. John's, in fact, has finished fifth or better in the nation for 11-straight years. Nine fencers earned All-America honors, with four being named to the first-team.

During Gelman's time with St. John's, his teams have finished better than sixth place at the NCAA Championships. His 2001 team, which featured four former United States Olympians and seven individuals who won NCAA titles during their careers, was perhaps his best. During that season, the men's and women's teams posted records of 13-2 during the regular season, and went on to claim the Intercollegiate Fencing Association Championship and the NCAA Championship, the University's second-ever NCAA title.

Under Gelman, the Red Storm has finished second at the NCAA Championship four times (2000, 2002, 2006, 2007) and third four times also (1996, 1997, 2003, and 2005).

His men's teams recorded a 130-30 record in 14 seasons. The men have posted two perfect seasons under Gelman, going 14-0 in 1999-2000 and 12-0 in 2003-04.

The women's team has been equally strong under Gelman, posting a 119-28 record, including a 13-1 mark in 2002-03, its best-ever under Gelman. Erzebet Garay's 45 wins in 2006 serves as one of the highest win totals of any female fencer in St. John's history.

Under Gelman's leadership, St. John's fencers have won 12 individual NCAA titles, including Garay's 2006 title in the foil and Golebiewski in 2008. The 2004 epee crown was earned by Arpad Horvath in 2003-04. Off the strip, five fencers - Alex Roytblat, Arlene Stevens, Emese Takacs, Luther Clement and Katia Larchanka - have earned Academic All-America honors, while Garay, earned ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-District honors.

As a professional coach for over 25 years, Gelman brings a vast knowledge of fencing, as well as the necessary experience at the upper echelon of international competition to his student-athletes.

Gelman coached the United States during the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, as the national and personal coach for former Red Storm fencers Keeth Smart and Ivan Lee. He guided the 2004 U.S. sabre squad to a fourth-place finish; the best-ever finish for the team.

Gelman also coached the U.S. team in Sydney in 2000, mentoring Akhi Spencer-El, one of the top-ranked sabre fencers in the country and a two-time national champion. In addition, he coached two of his then student-athletes, Smart and Arlene Stevens.

Gelman was the first coach for Lee, a two-time NCAA Champion, a gold and silver medal winner at the Junior World Championships and a bronze medal winner at the Cadet World Championships. Lee was once ranked among the top 20 fencers in the world.

Gelman's coaching experience began at the Kiev Physical Education College, where he was coach from 1977-91. Gelman also served as coach of the Ukranian Fencing Team from 1987-91.

Gelman is a 1977 graduate of Kiev Physical Education College, where he earned a degree in physical education and coaching of fencing. Gelman also earned his master's degree in physical education in 1981 from Kiev.

In September 2007, Gelman opened the Manhattan Fencing Center. The club includes elite fencers from the greater New York Area and serves as an Olympic training facility as well.