Our ambition is for everyone who comes to Fence Like An Olympian to have an enjoyable experience through their participation in the Olympic sport of fencing
At FLO we provide a full range of training from beginner courses for 7 year olds through to squad training days for our aspiring International foil fencers. We run classes throughout the week at the Queen's PEC , Belfast and at Methodist College . During the school holidays we run training camps and workshops for fencers to improve their fencing fitness and technique and to prepare for specific International competitions.
OUR COACHES
We believe that hiring the very best coaches who are qualified to the highest levels, is the most successful way to deliver fun, safe, quality tuition in the sport of fencing.
Katie Arup - Team GB Olympian Los Angeles , member of British Team at Kobe World University Games and Rome World Championships plus multiple Junior World Championships. Nationally, Katie was a multiple British Junior Foil Champion. Katie is both a British Fencing and an Irish Master of Arms qualified Foil Coach .
Stephen Brown - British Youth Champion, 3x Irish National Champion 3x European Championships and 2x World championships representing Ireland
Johnny Davis - 2 time Team GB Olympian ( Seoul and Barcelona Olympics) , member of British Team World Championships 1985 - 1992, Team Manager for Team GB Tokyo 2020/21 , Team Manager British Fencing Team 2018-2023 , 3 time Commonwealth medallist. Level 5 qualified coach.
Our coaches have competed at the highest levels of our sport and after retiring from competition they have trained to become top level accredited coaches through a number of National bodies - NI Fencing, British Fencing and the Irish Academy of Arms. We work closely with Northern Ireland Fencing , British Fencing and Fencing Ireland in order to help develop our Fence Like an Olympian members to their potential and to provide them with a positive experience in the wonderful sport of fencing .
“FLO is unique in its approach to building a fencer. From the joy of the first midifencing sessions through the solid foundations built on first principles to preparing and supporting the advanced young fencers for National and International championships; the FLO coaches are superb at any stage.”
What We've Achieved
2 of our athletes were selected to fence at the 2020 World Junior Championships, Salt Lake City, USA.
2 of our athletes were selected to fence at the 2020 European Junior Championships, Croatia.
1 of our athletes won the Gold Medal at the Junior 5 Nations Individual Foil
1 of our athletes won the Bronze Medal at the 2019 British Youth Championships, Under 18
5 of our Junior athletes were selected to represent NI at the 2019 5 Nations Tournament
11 of our under 14 fencers travelled with the club to London to compete in the Newham Swords Age Group Competition in June 2019
Our athletes have travelled to attend training camps in Poland , Hungary , Denmark and France
5 of our athletes were selected for NI on the Cadet Commonwealth Team, 2018
4 of our athletes were selected for NI on the Junior Commonwealth Team, 2018
7 of or athletes were selected to represent NI and the 2022 Commonwealth Championships in London
3 of our athletes were selected to represent NI at the 2024 Cadet and Junior Commonwealth Championships in New Zealand
Our coaches delivered try-out fencing sessions to 150+ Belfast school kids through our Sport NI 'Active Awards 4 Kids' initiative
Through local partnerships ( NI Fencing, NI Commonwealth Games , Sport NI , GLL ) our coaches deliver coaching sessions to children in areas of social need