SERGEY BIDA

Sergey Bida is an Olympic silver medalist, former World No. 1 in men’s épée, three-time European Champion, and one of the most accomplished épée fencers of the 21st century.

Fencing has been part of Sergey’s family for three generations. His grandmother, Valentina Rastvorova, was the 1960 Olympic Champion and a multiple World Champion. His mother, Elena Grishina, was a two-time World Championship silver medalist and competed at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona while pregnant with Sergey.

Sergey began fencing under the guidance of his family before continuing his development with renowned épée coach Alexander Glazunov. During his competitive career, he progressed from junior international competition to the top of senior world fencing, ultimately reaching No. 1 in the FIE World Ranking and winning an Olympic silver medal.

Alongside his competitive career, Sergey pursued formal education in coaching and sports psychology. This combination of elite competitive experience, technical knowledge, and understanding of athlete development forms the foundation of his coaching philosophy.

Together with his wife, Olympian Violetta Bida, Sergey founded Bida Fencing Academy to create a world-class training environment in the United States and develop the next generation of competitive fencers.

As a coach, Sergey emphasizes technical precision, tactical understanding, individual development, and competition psychology. His approach is highly personalized: every athlete has different strengths, challenges, ambitions, and ways of learning.

Having experienced every stage of the competitive pathway — from beginner and junior fencing to World No. 1 and the Olympic podium — Sergey understands what is required to progress through each level of the sport.

His goal is not simply to teach athletes how to fence, but to give them the tools, structure, and mindset to pursue the highest level their talent and commitment can take them.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

Olympic Silver Medalist — Tokyo 2020

World No. 1 in the FIE Men’s Épée Ranking — 2019–2020

World Championship Silver Medalist — 2019

World Championship Bronze Medalist — 2018

Three-Time European Champion — 2017, 2018, 2019

Doha Grand Prix Champion — 2020

Two-Time Summer Universiade Champion — Taipei 2017

Multiple World Cup and Grand Prix Champion and Medalist

European U23 Champion — 2016

Junior World Champion — 2012

Junior European Champion — 2012

10-Time Russian National Champion

7-Time Russian Junior Champion

3-Time Russian Cadet Champion

Russian National Team Member — 2010–2022

USA Fencing Summer Nationals Champion — 2023

USA Fencing Division I NAC Champion — December 2023

USA Fencing Division I Summer Nationals Silver Medalist — July 2026

EDUCATION

Fencing Coaching Degree with Honors — Russian University of Sports

Degree in Sports Psychology — Institute of Psychotherapy and Clinical Psychology