With a total of 59 medals, it is safe to say that Richmond’s Dynamo Fencing Club successfully took over at this year’s provincial championships.
Dynamo opened its first facility in 2006 and has since become the home for athletes ranging from beginners to Olympians, and the young and old alike, from ages three to 60. This August will mark the one year anniversary of the club’s new facility at Vauxhall Place in north Richmond, which is six times larger than its previous home, making Dynamo the largest fencing facility in Canada.
“Having a large facility allows us to do all kinds of things in terms of training,” says Igor Gantsevich, president of the Dynamo Fencing Club. “We’re now aiming at looking towards being an international destination for fencing.”
The recent upgrade has allowed Dynamo to double its student population, as well as host the 2016 provincial championships.
Of the 24 events at this year’s provincials which took place from June 10 to 19, Dynamo athletes secured 21 of those gold medals. Athletes also took home 16 silver and 22 bronze medals.
Gantsevich credits the skilled and decorated coaching staff at Dynamo for the club’s success at numerous events and competitions, including his own father, Victor Gantsevich, who was the Canadian National Team coach.
“It starts all from the coaching,” says Gantsevich. “We are the only club in the province to have coaches of this level.”
Dynamo athletes have a busy summer coming up. Ongoing events and outreach camps taking place at the facility and at the Richmond Oval will feature nationally and internationally acclaimed fencers from around the world.
The club is also looking forward to the start of the school year when it will partner with the West Vancouver School District for a high performance, in-school academy.
