COACHES

Founder and Head Coach
Canadian National Team Coach
Former Coach of Team Israel and Ukraine
Paris 2024 Olympics Men's Epee CoachSince graduating from the Institute of Physical Education and Sports of the City of Kiev, Ukraine in 1979, he has led Fencers to championships in the Ukraine, Israel and Canada.
Maitre Gantsevich currently dedicates the majority of his time and energy to elite High Performance Dynamo athletes. This dovetails nicely with his roles as the B.C. Provincial and Senior Canadian National Team Head Coach. Over the past decade, Maitre Gantsevich has quickly become a beacon for elite level coaching, having qualified nearly thirty (30) Dynamo athletes to Canada’s National Teams.
Victor Gantsevich OLY
Since graduating from the Institute of Physical Education and Sports of the City of Kiev, Ukraine in 1979, he has led Fencers to championships in the Ukraine, Israel and Canada.
He currently dedicates the majority of his time and energy to elite High Performance Dynamo athletes. This dovetails nicely with his roles as the B.C. Provincial and Senior Canadian National Team Head Coach. Over the past decade, Maitre Gantsevich has quickly become a beacon for elite level coaching, having qualified nearly thirty (30) Dynamo athletes to Canada’s National Teams.

Canadian Fencing Federation - High Performance Director
2004 - 2012 Canadian National Team
2022 Vancouver World Cup Chairman
Paris 2024 Olympics Team Leader
In coach Igor's nearly decade long career as an elite athlete and Canadian National Team member from 2004 to 2012, Igor enjoyed success at the highest levels including a Bronze Medal at the 2011 PanAM Games and championships at Provincial, National, North American and PanAmerican Championships.
In 2012 Igor sustained a career ending wrist injury which, in hindsight, was a blessing in disguise. This turn of events allowed Igor to direct his energy and passion to his true calling: establish Canada as a world power in the sport of Fencing. Igor set out on this mission by focusing on grass roots Youth development and creating a base of Canadian Youth Fencing that will grow into Olympic caliber athletes.
Igor Gantsevich OLY
In his nearly decade long career as an elite athlete and Canadian National Team member from 2004 to 2012, Igor enjoyed success at the highest levels including a Bronze Medal at the 2011 PanAM Games and championships at Provincial, National, North American and PanAmerican Championships.
In 2012 Igor sustained a career ending wrist injury which, in hindsight, was a blessing in disguise. This turn of events allowed Igor to direct his energy and passion to his true calling: establish Canada as a world power in the sport of Fencing. Igor set out on this mission by focusing on grass roots Youth development and creating a base of Canadian Youth Fencing that will grow into Olympic caliber athletes.
Igor Gantsevich has quickly became a major force in the development of Fencing in Canada and throughout the world. He is widely considered a visionary for his relentless commitment to building Fencers from the ground up, ensuring that they achieve the same success in life that they do in athletics.

Paris 2024 Olympics Women's Foil Coach
Coach of First Ever Canadian Olympic Medalist
Canadian Women's Foil Head Coach
Canadian Women’s Foil Head Coach, who has an outstanding coaching history in the USA with Empire United Fencing in New Jersey and Fencers Club in New York City. Under his guidance, athletes have achieved gold in Cadet, Junior, and Division 1 NACs, with many progressing to Ivy League universities. Since his return to Canada, Alex has led the national team to remarkable successes, including several top 10 World Rankings, six individual World Cup medals, and two individual Junior/Cadet World Championships.
Alex Martin OLY
Canadian Women’s Foil Head Coach, who has an outstanding coaching history in the USA with Empire United Fencing in New Jersey and Fencers Club in New York City. Under his guidance, athletes have achieved gold in Cadet, Junior, and Division 1 NACs, with many progressing to Ivy League universities. Since his return to Canada, Alex has led the national team to remarkable successes, including several top 10 World Rankings, six individual World Cup medals, and two individual Junior/Cadet World Championships.

Paris 2024 Olympics Bronze Medalist
Canadian National Team
3x Olympian
Eleanor, is a three-time Olympian. Canada's first Olympic medalist in fencing (Bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics). She boasts an impressive resume that includes 7 individual World Cup medals (including 2024 Tunis - Bronze and 2024 - Busan Silver, an NCAA individual championship, Division 1 NAC gold, and Pan American Championship gold medals in both individual and team events. She has also been ranked as high as #3 in the Senior FIE ranking.
Eleanor Harvey OLY
Eleanor, is a three-time Olympian. Canada's first Olympic medalist in fencing (Bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics). She boasts an impressive resume that includes 7 individual World Cup medals (including 2024 Tunis - Bronze and 2024 - Busan Silver, an NCAA individual championship, Division 1 NAC gold, and Pan American Championship gold medals in both individual and team events. She has also been ranked as high as #3 in the Senior FIE ranking.

Olympian and World Champion
1985, 1991 Bronze medalist of the World Championship
1988 Bronze medalist of the XXIV Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea
1986 Silver medalist of the world Championship
1987 World Champion
1985 Winner of the Summer Universiade
Five-times holder European Cup
Winner and finalist of World Cups
Myhailo Tyshko OLY
1985, 1991 Bronze medalist of the World Championship
1988 Bronze medalist of the XXIV Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea
1986 Silver medalist of the world Championship
1987 World Champion
1985 Winner of the Summer Universiade
Five-times holder European Cup
Winner and finalist of World Cups

Sydney 2000 Olympics Bronze Medalist
Team Belgium Olympic Coach
Cuban National Team
A former athlete of Team Cuba, coach Nelson won a bronze medal in the team event at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and became a world champion in 1997 in Cape Town. He also won 2 more bronze medals, one at the 1999 World Championships in Seoul, Korea and 1998 World Championships in Denver, USA.
Coach Nelson is also the father and coach of Neisser Loyola who recently finished Top 8 at the Paris 2024 Olympics, representing Belgium. Now making Canada his home, we are excited to have him join Dynamo family and look forward to the time ahead.
Nelson Loyola OLY
A former athlete of Team Cuba, coach Nelson won a bronze medal in the team event at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and became a world champion in 1997 in Cape Town. He also won 2 more bronze medals, one at the 1999 World Championships in Seoul, Korea and 1998 World Championships in Denver, USA.
Coach Nelson is also the father and coach of Neisser Loyola who recently finished Top 8 at the Paris 2024 Olympics, representing Belgium. Now making Canada his home, we are excited to have him join Dynamo family and look forward to the time ahead.

Coach Manuel joins Dynamo with a successful track record working with national teams from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Paraguay, and Cuba. He has guided athletes to win medals at international events, including the Pan American and Central American Games, and achieved qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Manuel Tame Espinosa
Coach Manuel joins Dynamo with a successful track record working with national teams from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Paraguay, and Cuba. He has guided athletes to win medals at international events, including the Pan American and Central American Games, and achieved qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

1992 - 2007 Canadian National Team
TOP ACHIEVEMENTS
3 Selections as athlete to Fisu games
Top 8 result in Palma (ESP) 1999
13 times National Champion
9 Selections for Worlds
Many top 16 results in senior world cups
11 NAC medals (3 Gold)
4 times Québec Federation athlete of the year
COACHING
Charles has significant results as a coach whose students won many medals:
42 medals at Nationals (16 Gold);
6 individual Pan-Am (1 Gold);
4 Senior World Cup medals;
1 Bronze medal at Cadet World championship.
Charles St-Hilaire
TOP ACHIEVEMENTS
3 Selections as athlete to Fisu games
Top 8 result in Palma (ESP) 1999
13 times National Champion
9 Selections for Worlds
Many top 16 results in senior world cups
11 NAC medals (3 Gold)
4 times Québec Federation athlete of the year
COACHING
Charles has significant results as a coach whose students won many medals:
42 medals at Nationals (16 Gold);
6 individual Pan-Am (1 Gold);
4 Senior World Cup medals;
1 Bronze medal at Cadet World championship.

Ukrainian National Team
TOP ACHIEVEMENTS
3 times Junior World Champion
( 1997 and 2 times 1998 ), 1999 and 2006
European silver medalist, 2001 European bronze medalist in Modern Pentathlon
1998 Champion of Youth Ukrainian Games
1999 and 2003 Champion of Ukrainian Games in Modern Pentathlon
COACHING
Bronze medal in World Championship 2011
Silver in cadet World championship 2011
"Learn from mistakes for future victories."
Vitaliy Budovskyi
TOP ACHIEVEMENTS
3 times Junior World Champion
( 1997 and 2 times 1998 ), 1999 and 2006
European silver medalist, 2001 European bronze medalist in Modern Pentathlon
1998 Champion of Youth Ukrainian Games
1999 and 2003 Champion of Ukrainian Games in Modern Pentathlon
COACHING
Bronze medal in World Championship 2011
Silver in cadet World championship 2011
"Learn from mistakes for future victories."

Men’s Foil National Team Coach
TOP ACHIEVEMENTS
Men’s Foil National Team Coach
Cadet and Junior National Team coach at 2022 World Championship in Dubai
COACHING
World Championships:
• Xu Jia Bao (Bowen) - Bronze medal, 2024 Cadet World Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Also top 16 in Junior
• Nadia Hayes - 5th place at the 2023 Cadet World Championship in Plovdiv, Bulgaria
• Boris Budovskyi- 9th place at the 2025 Cadet World Championship in Wuxi, China
World Cup results:
• Nadia Hayes - Bronze medal at the 2024 Junior WC in Bangkok, Thailand
• Nadia Hayes - Bronze medal at the 2025 Junior WC in Tbilisi, Georgia
North American Cups (NAC) medalists:
• Xu Jia Bao
• Nadia Hayes
• Adam Wong
• Adrian Wong
• Boris Budovskyi
• Matt Wei
• Maggie Gu
• Soleil Zhang
• Tiger Wang
• Kevin Lu
Simon Stavissky
TOP ACHIEVEMENTS
Men’s Foil National Team Coach
Cadet and Junior National Team coach at 2022 World Championship in Dubai
COACHING
World Championships:
• Xu Jia Bao (Bowen) - Bronze medal, 2024 Cadet World Championship in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Also top 16 in Junior
• Nadia Hayes - 5th place at the 2023 Cadet World Championship in Plovdiv, Bulgaria
• Boris Budovskyi- 9th place at the 2025 Cadet World Championship in Wuxi, China
World Cup results:
• Nadia Hayes - Bronze medal at the 2024 Junior WC in Bangkok, Thailand
• Nadia Hayes - Bronze medal at the 2025 Junior WC in Tbilisi, Georgia
North American Cups (NAC) medalists:
• Xu Jia Bao
• Nadia Hayes
• Adam Wong
• Adrian Wong
• Boris Budovskyi
• Matt Wei
• Maggie Gu
• Soleil Zhang
• Tiger Wang
• Kevin Lu