Yury Gelman Foundation

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Testimonials

Every Athlete Has A Story Worth Telling

Behind every scholarship, every lesson, and every opportunity is a young person working toward something bigger. Through the support of our donors, mentors, coaches, and community, athletes gain access to experiences that help shape their future both on and off the fencing strip.

The Yury Gelman Foundation exists to ensure that talent, determination, and potential are never limited by financial barriers. Together, we are helping young athletes build confidence, discipline, leadership, and lifelong opportunities.

Sponsored Athletes

Meet Our Sponsored Athletes

Chasing Olympic Dreams

Elizabeth Tartakovsky & Maia Chamberlain

From NCAA championships to international competition, Elizabeth Tartakovsky and Maia Chamberlain represent the dedication, perseverance, and excellence that define the Foundation’s mission. Both athletes achieved remarkable success at Harvard and Princeton while pursuing their dreams at the highest levels of fencing.

Their journey demonstrates how world-class coaching, mentorship, and unwavering determination can open doors to extraordinary opportunities and inspire future generations of athletes.

Building The Next Generation

Roman Musa

Every athlete’s journey begins with a single opportunity. Through access to training, mentorship, and support, these talented young fencers continue developing the skills, discipline, and confidence needed to pursue their goals both in competition and in life.

The Foundation remains committed to helping promising athletes overcome obstacles and reach their full potential.

Growing Through Opportunity

Olgierd Borkowski

Success is about more than medals and rankings. It is about personal growth, resilience, leadership, and the ability to overcome challenges. Through the Foundation’s programs, young athletes gain experiences that help prepare them for future success in academics, athletics, and their communities.

Alumni Success Stories

A Place To Belong

"After attending the Saturday classes I had grown to really love fencing. Fencing, to me, has become so much more than just a mere hobby. It has become my friends, a second family, my safety net, and most importantly a place to do what I love. Every time I step through doors of the club the clash of sabers and the flash of white is imprinted in my mind. And the friends I’ve made along the way and supportive coaches made my experience that much better. I have never once felt left out at my two years here at MFC. So I would like to thank the Yury Gelman foundation for the amazing opportunities and with the help of my coaches and newfound friends I will continue to learn and progress into a better fencer."

Sophie Damdinsuren

"After attending the Saturday classes I had grown to really love fencing. Fencing, to me, has become so much more than just a mere hobby. It has become my friends, a second family, my safety net, and most importantly a place to do what I love. Every time I step through doors of the club the clash of sabers and the flash of white is imprinted in my mind. And the friends I’ve made along the way and supportive coaches made my experience that much better. I have never once felt left out at my two years here at MFC. So I would like to thank the Yury Gelman foundation for the amazing opportunities and with the help of my coaches and newfound friends I will continue to learn and progress into a better fencer."

Monica Aksamit

"The Yury Gelman Foundation has aided me in providing an impactful financial support system allowing me to take private lessons. With the expenses that come with commuting to practice, membership fees, and classes, lessons were always an integral component of fencing I was forced to sacrifice in my career. Due to the foundation’s help, I have been working with Coach Sergey which has allowed me to truly refine my techniques and skills bringing me to a higher level in my fencing. I truly appreciate all that the foundation has done for me in supporting my fencing career."

Charleston Kim

"I started fencing just over 4 years ago and the sport has stuck with me deeply. Not only do I enjoy the mix of mental and physical activity, different from other sports where physical activity is more important, but I love competing and producing results as I improve. Every training session is a new step to learn or perfect my skills and every competition is a great test of my improvement. The excitement and drama in every bout is exhilarating and the difficulty and uniqueness of the sport is what draws me to it even more.The Yury Gelman Foundation has helped me practice more and therefore, improve. More practice gives me more time to fence teammates and practice skills in private lessons. Because of this I have been able to travel to more competitions and gain experience. I am becoming more confident with my experience and showing more results since I have had the support from the foundation. Since I am traveling more and competing across the country, the grant has significantly helped me with offsetting travel costs."

Matt Linsky

"I like fencing because it pushes me to be stronger both physically and mentally. It also allows for me to grow as a person being around people who want the same thing as me and want to reach the same goals which motivates me a lot more. With the Foundation’s help I was able to start winning competitions and think about my future in fencing and might want to take it to a professional level."

Mariah Mendoza

A Legacy Of Excellence

From Local Athletes
To Olympians

Yury Gelman’s influence extends across decades of coaching excellence. His athletes have become Olympians, NCAA champions, national champions, and leaders in their communities. The Foundation carries that legacy forward by creating opportunities for the next generation to pursue their dreams regardless of financial circumstances.

Help Write The Next Success Story

Every donation helps provide training, mentorship, educational support, and competitive opportunities for deserving young athletes. Together, we can continue opening doors and creating life-changing opportunities for future generations.

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