Former Olympic Fencing Coach Files Lawsuit Against US Fencing Chair

Former head coach of the US Olympic Fencing Team, Andrei Gueba, has initiated legal action against Damian Lefeld, the chair of US Fencing. Gueba alleges that Lefeld made “false and misleading” statements during a hearing held on May 7.

In addition to Lefeld, Gueba’s lawsuit targets five other members of the US Fencing board and former Egyptian Olympian Abdel Salem. The suit aims to oust Lefeld from his position as chairman.

In an exclusive interview, Gueba elaborated on the comments he believes are false. He called out Lefeld’s assertion that “women more generally exhibit advantageous traits such as flexibility and agility,” stating that fencing is fundamentally a sport of strategy.

Gueba, who coached Team USA from 2013 to 2021, argued that Lefeld’s statement is misleading. “This is simply not true. I have coached both male and female fencers at high levels,” he mentioned. He added that his coaching approach varies for male and female athletes.

Moreover, Gueba criticized Lefeld’s comments about mixed-gender competitions, asserting that they have been misrepresented. He claimed that while men and women may compete safely on the same floor, there are no officially sanctioned mixed events at the national level.

USA Fencing has issued a statement in reaction to Gueba’s lawsuit but refrained from discussing recent remarks. They emphasized their commitment to transparency while defending against what they see as a misrepresentation of the organization.

The lawsuit also challenges Lefeld’s statement that US Fencing is classified as a national governing body, supported by a vast community that contributes significant revenue. Gueba highlighted that several private clubs have distanced themselves from US Fencing due to current policies regarding transgender athlete participation. He suggested that some clubs have transitioned to AAU membership instead.

On the other hand, sources within US Fencing claim that the organization is thriving, citing record membership numbers nearing 43,000, contradicting Gueba’s assertions of clubs leaving.

The context surrounding Gueba’s lawsuit is heightened by a recent incident where female fencer Stephanie Turner faced repercussions for kneeling in protest against a transgender opponent—a situation that sparked considerable scrutiny towards US Fencing.

Gueba expressed that, in his view, Lefeld should resign following the controversies that arose during the recent hearings. “There’s more than enough reason for him to step down,” he stated. “I think we are heading in the wrong direction under his leadership.”