Direct Elimination Podcast
The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.
Hosted by Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart, two elite U.S. fencers chasing Olympic dreams, Direct Elimination goes beyond the strip to uncover the stories, ups and downs that shape athletes. Each episode brings you conversations with fencers, Olympians, and sports leaders who share the mental battles, personal growth, and cultural shifts behind their journeys.
This isn’t just a fencing podcast. It’s about resilience, mindset, and purpose. Whether you’re an athlete, a fan of Olympic sports, or simply someone chasing excellence in life, you’ll find stories here that resonate.
🎙️ Topics we explore:
The mindset of world-class athletes
Failure, resilience, and comeback stories
NCAA & Olympic fencing insights
The role of social media, culture, and community in sports
Why athletes do what they do — and what keeps them fighting
📌 Subscribe for episodes that deliver real talk, laughs, and lessons — straight from the fencing strip to your headphones.
Direct Elimination Podcast
Fares Ferjani on Olympic Lessons, African Pride & Fighting Spirit | Direct Elimination Ep. 7
🎙️ EPISODE 7 – FARES FERJANI INTERVIEW
The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.
In this episode of Direct Elimination, hosts Ari Simmons and Stephen Ewart welcome Fares Ferjani — Tunisian sabre fencer, Olympian, and one of the most inspiring voices in African fencing.
Fares’ journey is rooted in family, identity, and pride. Coming from a fencing family in Tunisia, he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming an Olympian and one of the faces of African fencing on the world stage. His story is about more than medals — it’s about representing a continent, staying grounded through setbacks, and fighting with joy.
You’ll hear:
- Fares’ origin story — how fencing found him and why it became his passion.
- Lessons from competing and medaling at the Olympic Games and carrying Tunisia’s flag on the strip.
- The influence of family and community in building his mindset.
- Why he embraces the title of being one of Africa’s top fencers — and the responsibility that comes with it.
- Training challenges and breakthroughs while balancing life across continents.
- What it means to bring visibility to fencing in countries where the sport is still growing.
- How he stays grounded in gratitude and why joy is central to his fencing philosophy.
Fares’ story is about competing at the highest level while never losing sight of where you come from — and using the platform of sport to open doors for others.
🗣️ “If you’re a competitor, this episode is for you.”
⏱ Timestamps
00:00 – Intro & sponsor shoutout
02:00 – Welcoming Fares Ferjani
06:00 – Growing up in a fencing family in Tunisia
12:00 – Early competitions & African representation
18:00 – The Olympic experience: lessons & challenges
28:00 – Identity, pride, and representing Tunisia
35:00 – Balancing training across continents
42:00 – African fencing: growth, challenges, opportunities
50:00 – Mindset, gratitude, and fighting spirit
57:00 – One Light Answers (rapid fire)
1:01:00 – Closing reflections
đź’¬ Key Quotes
- “I am brutally honest with myself”
- “Joy is what makes me fight harder — not pressure.”
- “In order to respect your opponent and yourself, you have to go 100%”
Thank you for listening!
đź”— Connect with Us
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