Direct Elimination Podcast
The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.
The world of elite fencing's most relatable duo — Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart of Team USA — team up to provide next-level access to life as a fencer as it unfolds. The two teammates drop insights about their journeys to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. They also endlessly rag on each other as friends do, chat about their sport and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them.
Topics they explore:
The mindset of world-class athletes
Failure, resilience, and comeback stories
NCAA & Olympic fencing insights
The role of social media, culture, and community in sports
Why athletes do what they do — and what keeps them fighting
Subscribe for episodes that deliver real talk, laughs, and lessons — straight from the fencing strip to your headphones.
Episodes
46 episodes
Sabre Olympian Kaito Streets on Learning from Losses and Chasing Greatness | The Will to Win Ep. 4
Kaito Streets left Team USA to fence for Japan, where he has both missed and qualified for Olympic Games in the last 10 years. Through the ups, downs, wins and almosts of his career, Kaito's resilience speaks for itself. The Fencin...
Olympic Bronze Medalist and World #1 Mohamed Elsayed: Trusting Yourself When It Counts Most | The Will to Win Ep. 3
How powerful is manifestation? In Paris 2024, Mohamed Elsayed won bronze, and then finally opened a video that he recorded on his phone in 2021.The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.In this episode, you'll discover:• H...
Hong Kong Fencer Kaylin Hsieh on Winning Gold, Fear of Losing, and the Olympic Question | The Will to Win Ep. 2
Kaylin Hsieh won her first Grand Prix gold sick, alone, and with nothing to lose, and came to share some of the ups and downs of her professional athletic career. The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.In this episode, you'...
Pentathlon Olympian and World Champion turned NCAA Fencing Head Coach at Duke: Omar Elgeziry | Direct Elimination Ep. 35
Duke Fencing Head Coach Omar Elgeziry on why there's no luck in college fencing, and the meditation secret behind every Duke practice.The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.In this episode, you'll discover:• Why Omar be...
Áron Szilágyi: Back-to-Back-to-Back Olympic Champion Who Says Losing at Paris Olympics Was Actually Liberating | The Will to Win Ep. 1
3× Individual Olympic champion Áron Szilágyi on the Achilles injury that changed everything and why losing at Paris felt like freedom.The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.In this episode, you'll discover:• What Szilág...
USA Fencing CEO Phil Andrews on Growing Fencing in America: NCAA Programs, Marketing Push & the Road to LA 2028 | Direct Elimination Ep. 34
USA Fencing's CEO, Phil Andrews, reveals influencer and K-pop deals, a sport-saving radio campaign & what the sport's growth strategy is as we approach the LA 2028 Olympic Games. This episode will surprise you.The Fencing Podcast of...
Jerry Simmons on How to Raise a World Champion Fencer | Direct Elimination: Special Father's Day Edition
What does it actually take to raise a World Champion fencer? Jerry Simmons reveals the parenting philosophy no one talks about.The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.In this episode, you'll discover:• Why Jerry and his ...
The Fencer Who Wrote Our Theme Song: Colin Campbell | Direct Elimination Ep. 33
Colin Campbell wrote the Direct Elimination theme song on sticky notes during construction breaks — and he's a Notre Dame fencing champion.The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.In this episode, you'll discover:• How Co...
Our Wildest Fencing Season Yet — End of Season Recap
The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.Ari beat Olympic and world champion Masaru Yamada at the MedellínFencing World Cup, Stephen and the New York Athletic Club won the Senior National Team Championship, and somehow we still sq...
NCAA Fencing Champion & Paris Olympian Elizabeth Tartakovsky on Women's Saber Fencing, Harvard & Finding Joy Again | Direct Elimination Ep. 32
Paris Olympian Elizabeth Tartakovsky opens up about women's saber fencing, chasing the Olympics, and what comes after the dream.The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.In this episode, you'll discover:• How Elizabeth Tar...
"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 epis...
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....
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 discov...
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:<...
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,...
Jackie Dubrovich: Olympic Gold, Then What? Life After Paris 2024 | Direct Elimination Ep. 28
Jackie Dubrovich won Olympic gold with USA fencing in Paris 2024 — then walked away. What happens when the dream is done?The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.In this episode, you'll discover:• How Jackie balanced a fu...
We Competed at the Astana Epee World Cup — Here's How it Went | Strategy, Upsets & Team USA Epee Rising
We competed at the Astana Epee World Cup in Kazakhstan — and Team USA beat Olympic champion Hungary. Full recap inside.The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.In this episode, you'll discover:• What it's actually like to...
Olympic Fencer Soren Thompson: Going From "Career-Ending" Injury to Self-Coaching Success | Direct Elimination Ep. 27
Olympic fencer Soren Thompson tore his hamstring so badly he could barely walk—then self-coached his way back to the 2012 Games. His unconventional philosophy changed how he approached elite performance.The Fencing Podcast of All Fencin...
Olympic Champion Fencer Romain Cannone on Winning Gold and his Sudden Departure from the Sport | Direct Elimination Ep. 26
Romain Cannone went from Olympic alternate to Olympic gold in Tokyo. He reveals the flow state & fencing culture that made it possible, and why he walked away at his peak. The untold American-French story.The Fencing Podcast of All F...
The Real Cost of Becoming an Elite Athlete: Dylan Nollner on Sacrifice & Mentality | Direct Elimination Ep. 25
What does it cost to become USA's #1 fencer? Dylan Nollner reveals the sacrifices, mental training, and why he walked away at his peak performance.The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.In this episode, you'll discover:...
Unplanned Episodes 2: We Finally Faced Each Other in Direct Elimination | Cincinnati NAC Recap & Youth Sports Parenting
Stephen and Ari finally faced each other in direct elimination at NAC Cincinnati. We break down the match, mental prep challenges, and youth sports parenting.The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.In this episode, you'll di...
Unplanned Episodes 1: The World Fencing League Can Change Everything...
The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.After an unplanned hiatus, Ari and Stephen return to Direct Elimination with a commitment to authenticity, consistency, and real conversations about fencing. From their original failed league ...
NCAA All-American Fencer Em Beihold on Becoming Someone She's Proud Of | Direct Elimination Ep. 24
Em Beihold went viral but struggled with deep depression. The NCAA All-American fencer turned full-time artist reveals how imposter syndrome follows you—even at the top.🎙️ EPISODE 23 | EM BEIHOLDThe Fencing Podcast of All Fencing ...
Fencing Injuries, Prehab & Physical Therapy for Athletes - Dr. Rachel Hey-Shipton | Direct Elimination Ep. 23
🎙️ EPISODE 23 | RACHEL HEY-SHIPTONThe Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.What if the reason you're still hurt, still compensating, or still underperforming isn't a lack of training — but a lack of the *right* care? Dr. Rache...
Seth Kelsey: World Champion Fencer on Going All-In, Olympic Heartbreak, and Investing in the Process | Direct Elimination Ep. 22
🎙️ EPISODE 22 | SETH KELSEY INTERVIEWThe Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.What does it really take to compete at the highest level of fencing? Seth Kelsey is the best Men's Epee Fencer in USA Fencing history. The 2012 Wor...