Direct Elimination Podcast
The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.
Hosted by Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart, two elite U.S. fencers chasing Olympic dreams, Direct Elimination goes beyond the strip to uncover the stories, ups and downs that shape athletes. Each episode brings you conversations with fencers, Olympians, and sports leaders who share the mental battles, personal growth, and cultural shifts behind their journeys.
This isn’t just a fencing podcast. It’s about resilience, mindset, and purpose. Whether you’re an athlete, a fan of Olympic sports, or simply someone chasing excellence in life, you’ll find stories here that resonate.
🎙️ Topics we 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.
Direct Elimination Podcast
Italian Fencing Olympian Federico Vismara: Give Everything You Have | Direct Elimination Ep. 17
🎙️ EPISODE 17 – FEDERICO VISMARA
The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.
Join us for an intimate conversation with Federico Vismara, one of Italy's top epee fencers from 2019-2024, having won many international medals and achieving immense team success before finishing 5th at the Paris Olympics and retiring at 27. Federico opens up about his "short and sweet" era of dominance, the mental toughness required at elite levels, and the difficult decision to step away from competition at his peak.
From randomly choosing fencing at age 5 to becoming a world champion and Olympian, Federico shares his journey through the Italian fencing system, dealing with team politics, overcoming career-threatening injuries, and the psychological challenges athletes face when transitioning to life after sport. He also discusses his current path as an MBA student and consultant, plus his unique perspective on American culture during his time studying abroad.
You'll hear:
• The psychology behind elite competitive mentality and "mask on, killer mode"
• How Italian and American fencing systems differ in development and support
• The real challenges of balancing education with Olympic-level competition
• Inside stories of Italian team politics and Olympic qualification battles
• Why planning for life after sport is crucial for athlete mental health
• Federico's transition from elite competition to business consulting
⏱ CHAPTERS
00:00:00 – Intro
[00:02:59] – Federico Vismara's Achievements and Background
[00:04:44] – Competitive History and Mentality
[00:07:47] – Random Start to Fencing Career
[00:10:18] – Early Success and Development
[00:13:47] – Italian vs American Fencing Systems
[00:23:24] – Early Self-Belief and Injury Struggles
[00:32:04] – Training Philosophy and Mental Approach
[00:36:23] – The Back Injury Crisis and Recovery
[00:38:22] – Team Politics and Olympic Qualification Battle
[00:40:21] – Dealing with Italian Team Politics
[00:45:01] – Paris Olympics Experience and Career Conclusion
[00:48:21] – Federation Politics and Giving Back
[00:50:36] – The Future of Global Fencing
[00:58:10] – One Light Answers - Rapid Fire Questions
đź’¬ QUOTES
• "For me, going onto the piste was a battle. It's my life or your life. You have to get it. I won't give it to you for free."
• "People have a risk to lose themselves when they have a goal, and then after that, it's like a void"
• "You have to be cold. And when somebody promises you something that you agree on a strategy to get over an injury and they know maintain their world is, it's tough"
This is a podcast about passion. Fencing For A Purpose is a non-profit organization founded by 3 young fencers to share their passion for fencing with communities that would otherwise be underserved by the sport. The organization has engaged many high school fencers across the country with the intent of giving back and paying it forward, with officers all over the country. They run camps for underrepresented community members, tutor international fencers in English, raise money and donate gear in order to support grassroots clubs that need funds in order to provide a better experience for their fencers.
Website: https://fencingforapurpose.org/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fencingforapurpose/
GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fencing-for-a-purpose
Thank you for listening!
đź”— Connect with Us
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