Phoenix's Blog - Zeta's Elite Saber Summer Program with Olympic Silver Medalist Luigi Samele
My Experience at the Zeta Elite Saber
Summer Program
By Phoenix Olen
This August, I had the privilege of attending the Zeta Elite Saber Summer Program from August 18-22, and it turned out to be one of the best fencing experiences of my life. The camp was action-packed, full of lessons from very experienced people, and gave me memories I’ll carry with me far beyond the strip.
Training with Champions
The highlight of the week was training with Olympic Silver Medalist Luigi Samele (everyone calls him ”Gigi”) and 3x Olympian, 2023 World Champion, U.S. National Champion, NCAA Champion, and Zeta’s owner, Eli Dershwitz. Both Gigi and Eli are left-handed, and on the very first day of camp, August 18, we got to witness something truly special: a lefty vs. lefty exhibition match between the two of them. It was very evident through both Olympians fighting that this week of camp was going to be extremely useful in the long run for all of us. Everyone in the room was wide-eyed, watching two of the world’s best go head-to-head. The match was so spectacular that it’s now featured on Zeta’s Instagram page, and I’ve already gone back to study it. Beyond just their speed and precision, they were very encouraging mentors who dedicated many hours with us to see us grow.
The Daily Flow
Each day had a balance of training, rest, and mental focus:
Morning Session (10 AM - 12:30 PM): We typically started with footwork, bladework, and technical drills that woke us up and got us ready to learn.
Lunch Break (12:30 - 1:30 PM): A chance to refuel and bond with fellow campers, and also a display of how prison food gets better over time.
Psychological and Mental Skills (1:30 - 2:30 PM): We learned strategies to build confidence, focus, and resilience - the qualities that separate good fencers from great ones.
Afternoon Session (2:30 - 4 PM): We finished the day with sparring and tactical exercises, putting the morning’s lessons into action and then stretched.
I loved how this structure didnt j’ust make me a stronger fencer physically, but also gave me tools for the mental half of fencing. There were about thirty of us in the camp, but it felt way more close-knit than that. Gigi made sure to give us such individualized attention. A notable lesson was when we were taught new intimidation tactics that would likely trick your opponent to step back, giving you tons of attack options.
Amazing Coaches and Mentors
Alongside the Olympians, we were guided by incredible coaches: Maitre de Sabre Coach Barni who had eyes everywhere and is just an all-around awesome coach, Maitre de Sabre Coach Irem who is a wonderfully crafted tactician, and Coach Kim, the funny resident veteran. I am especially grateful for Coach Irem, since she’s very good friends with my own coach, Coach Madison Fournier, who recommended the program to my parents and me. That connection made me feel like I was part of something even bigger, bridging my home training with this international experience. And none of this could have happened without Dr. Annette Pein, the program’s director, whose dedication kept everything running smoothly. Dr. Annette had a warm welcome and a smile for all of us and our parents, and additionally was the reason I was able to find and study the exhibition bout between Gigi and Eli.
New Friends from Around the World
One of the best parts of the camp was the people I met. I made so many new friends, including brothers from Germany. That was especially exciting for me because my parents always buy my fencing gear from Uhlmann in Germany, so meeting fencers from there felt like the sport was connecting us in a full-circle way. The friendships we built, on and off the strip, were just as valuable as the lessons I learned.
My Journey in Fencing
I only started fencing in late August of 2024, and am soon going to hit my first year anniversary, but from the very first day I fell in love with the sport. I know I still have so much to work on, but this camp has made it significantly easier to get the ball rolling for me. I love soaking up knowledge from every coach, teammate, and experience I encounter. I’m especially grateful to my school, The Loomis Chaffee School, for allowing me to do fencing at Enfield Fencing Club as my Spring Athletic Independent Sports Program. That opportunity gave me a foundation in sabre and made it possible for me to attend programs like Zeta and keep growing in the sport. Camps like this remind me that fencing is a journey, and I’m just at the beginning of mine.
My Biggest Takeaway
By the end of the week, I felt transformed, not just in my fencing but in how I see myself as an athlete. I gained speed, focus, and confidence, and I also discovered what it means to be part of a global fencing community. The Zeta Elite Saber Summer Program taught me that fencing is more than a sport. It’s a family that spans across countries and cultures. I can’t wait to take everything I learned into the new season, and I’m already counting the days until I can train with these amazing mentors again.
