St. John's University Athletics
Athlete Spotlight: Olympic Silver Medalist Fares Ferjani
10/29/2024 10:42:00 AM | Fencing
Ferjani speaks about his experience at St. John’s and finding the podium in Paris
QUEENS, N.Y. – The 2024 Paris Olympics came and went in a flash over the summer, but not without thrilling highlights and riveting moments keeping fans on the edge of their seats. Among the excitement, a familiar Johnnie took the world by storm and made history in the process.
St. John's alumnus and four-time All-American Fares Ferjani captured the silver medal in the men's saber individual competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics in late July for his home country of Tunisia.
The silver medal signified Ferjani's first podium mark in his third career Olympics after finishing 22nd in 2020 (Tokyo) and 25th in 2016 (Rio). The Carthage, Tunisia product became the highest and only the second fencing medal winner in Tunisian Olympic history, joining Inés Boubakri, who won the bronze medal in the women's foil in 2016.
Before finding the podium on the world stage, Ferjani produced a tremendous career with the Red Storm from 2017-23. He amassed 159 victories and finished inside the top three at the NCAA Championships twice.
During his six years in Queens, Ferjani earned both a bachelor's and master's degree inside the classroom, which helped him prepare for his future.
"My time at St. John's helped me prepare for the Olympics," Ferjani said. "It helped me prepare for my life in general and taught me a lot by teaching me everything that I needed to know to succeed in fencing and outside the fencing world."
When asked about what led Ferjani to St. John's in the first place, the answer was simple, Head Coach Yury Gelman. The fencing head coach is entering his 30th season with the program and has played a pivotal part in Ferjani's development, including coaching him from the sidelines in all three Olympics.
"He stayed by my side all this time until I had enough to go and get it and I truly appreciate that," Ferjani said about Gelman's impact. "He worked as hard as I did and he tries his best with me every day. He's a father figure and I am very happy with him."
With Gelman in his corner, Ferjani generated a magical run during the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning his first three matchups against some of the world's best. First, taking down Korea's Bongil Gu handily by a score of 15-8 before defeating Hungary's Csanad Gemesi, 15-14. Ferjani then rallied from a 14-11 deficit and gained four straight touches to defeat China's Chengpeng Shen, 15-14.
After trekking through the early rounds, Ferjani was set to face the world's top-ranked men's saber fencer, Egypt's Ziad Elssisy, in the semifinals. Neither strangers in competition, the duo has linked up numerous times over the last decade.
"We have been in competitions together for the last 10 years – we always fence each other in the African Championships. He wins sometimes, I win sometimes and that has always been the competition," Ferjani said.
Ferjani jumped out to a commanding 8-3 lead against Elssisy as period one of the bout closed. The underdog continued his impressive start, out-touching on six of the next eight points to take a 14-5 lead to begin period two, standing just one hit away from a guaranteed medal. Elssisy battled back, showcasing why he entered as the world's number one, notching six straight points, 14-11. Ferjani prevented an epic comeback, securing a place on the podium with the final point to win, 15-11.
"He knew what to do. We had a plan and he followed the plan perfectly 100 percent," Coach Gelman said about Ferjani's semifinal performance. "He was very, very focused."
The upset victory against Elssisy secured Ferjani a spot in the gold medal bout and an eventual silver medal. "It's me versus him [Elssisy] all the time, and I'm happy I came up on top and won this one," Ferjani said.
Ferjani also joined an exclusive list of St. John's fencing alumni to medal at the Olympic Games, including Daryl Homer in 2016, Dagmara Wozniak in 2016 and Keeth Smart in 2008.
"He's a very hard worker. I worked with him for seven years, and all seven years he works just harder, harder and harder… This Olympics was his best fencing ever, so I am very proud," Gelman added.
Ferjani will make his triumphant return to the St. John's community when the silver medalist is recognized for his achievement at the University's President's Dinner on Oct. 30 at the Hilton Midtown.
St. John's alumnus and four-time All-American Fares Ferjani captured the silver medal in the men's saber individual competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics in late July for his home country of Tunisia.
The silver medal signified Ferjani's first podium mark in his third career Olympics after finishing 22nd in 2020 (Tokyo) and 25th in 2016 (Rio). The Carthage, Tunisia product became the highest and only the second fencing medal winner in Tunisian Olympic history, joining Inés Boubakri, who won the bronze medal in the women's foil in 2016.
Before finding the podium on the world stage, Ferjani produced a tremendous career with the Red Storm from 2017-23. He amassed 159 victories and finished inside the top three at the NCAA Championships twice.
During his six years in Queens, Ferjani earned both a bachelor's and master's degree inside the classroom, which helped him prepare for his future.
"My time at St. John's helped me prepare for the Olympics," Ferjani said. "It helped me prepare for my life in general and taught me a lot by teaching me everything that I needed to know to succeed in fencing and outside the fencing world."
When asked about what led Ferjani to St. John's in the first place, the answer was simple, Head Coach Yury Gelman. The fencing head coach is entering his 30th season with the program and has played a pivotal part in Ferjani's development, including coaching him from the sidelines in all three Olympics.
"He stayed by my side all this time until I had enough to go and get it and I truly appreciate that," Ferjani said about Gelman's impact. "He worked as hard as I did and he tries his best with me every day. He's a father figure and I am very happy with him."
With Gelman in his corner, Ferjani generated a magical run during the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning his first three matchups against some of the world's best. First, taking down Korea's Bongil Gu handily by a score of 15-8 before defeating Hungary's Csanad Gemesi, 15-14. Ferjani then rallied from a 14-11 deficit and gained four straight touches to defeat China's Chengpeng Shen, 15-14.
After trekking through the early rounds, Ferjani was set to face the world's top-ranked men's saber fencer, Egypt's Ziad Elssisy, in the semifinals. Neither strangers in competition, the duo has linked up numerous times over the last decade.
"We have been in competitions together for the last 10 years – we always fence each other in the African Championships. He wins sometimes, I win sometimes and that has always been the competition," Ferjani said.
Ferjani jumped out to a commanding 8-3 lead against Elssisy as period one of the bout closed. The underdog continued his impressive start, out-touching on six of the next eight points to take a 14-5 lead to begin period two, standing just one hit away from a guaranteed medal. Elssisy battled back, showcasing why he entered as the world's number one, notching six straight points, 14-11. Ferjani prevented an epic comeback, securing a place on the podium with the final point to win, 15-11.
"He knew what to do. We had a plan and he followed the plan perfectly 100 percent," Coach Gelman said about Ferjani's semifinal performance. "He was very, very focused."
The upset victory against Elssisy secured Ferjani a spot in the gold medal bout and an eventual silver medal. "It's me versus him [Elssisy] all the time, and I'm happy I came up on top and won this one," Ferjani said.
Ferjani also joined an exclusive list of St. John's fencing alumni to medal at the Olympic Games, including Daryl Homer in 2016, Dagmara Wozniak in 2016 and Keeth Smart in 2008.
"He's a very hard worker. I worked with him for seven years, and all seven years he works just harder, harder and harder… This Olympics was his best fencing ever, so I am very proud," Gelman added.
Ferjani will make his triumphant return to the St. John's community when the silver medalist is recognized for his achievement at the University's President's Dinner on Oct. 30 at the Hilton Midtown.
Players Mentioned
Saber
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