Israeli Fencer Alon Sarid and Coach Dor Levit Aim for Olympic Medal After Historic Summer

Israeli fencer Alon Sarid, 20, and his coach Dor Levit have marked a historic summer for Israeli fencing, highlighted by Sarid’s silver medal in the European Championships and the Israeli épée team’s fourth-place finish at the World Championships. Sarid’s individual silver was a breakthrough achievement, while the team’s near-podium finish represented Israel’s best-ever result at the World Championships. Levit, who also coaches the national team alongside Alexander Ivanov and Ohad Belveh, emphasized the rapid rise in the sport’s level in Israel, citing a strong cohort of young fencers and the benefits of centralized training at Wingate Institute.

Despite the successes, Levit expressed mixed feelings about the fourth-place finish at the World Championships, noting the team lost two critical matches by a single point in sudden death. He stressed that the team’s goal is to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, aiming to be among the top four European teams to secure their spot. Sarid, currently ranked around 20th globally, aims to break into the top 16 to gain automatic qualification advantages and improve his Olympic prospects.

Sarid reflected on his breakthrough season as a transition from youth to senior competition, describing the European silver as a confirmation of his potential and the World Championships as a valuable team experience despite the narrow losses. He highlighted the momentum built over the past two years within his team and the broader growth of fencing in Israel, which he believes can become a global powerhouse with continued investment and exposure. Both Sarid and Levit see the Olympic medal as an achievable target, with Sarid emphasizing that the journey involves focusing on each competition as a step toward that ultimate goal.

Looking ahead, Sarid plans to compete in the World Cup event in Casablanca in October to accumulate ranking points and maintain his upward trajectory. The coach and athlete agree that Israeli fencing is on the rise, with a strong pipeline of talent across age groups and a professional training environment that supports reaching the highest international levels. Sarid’s success is seen as part of a broader trend of Israeli fencers achieving historic results and setting the stage for future Olympic ambitions.