Benjamin’s coaches

Benjamin’s coaches include Olympians, a world champion and national champions. Below are his main coaches, then others he has learned from.

BENJAMIN’S CURRENT PRIMARY COACH

Archil “Achiko” Lortkipanidze

Georgian Olympian, five-time Georgian National Champion, Soviet Union Cup finalist and World Cup finalist.

Lortkipanidze represented Georgia in men’s sabre at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games before building a coaching career spanning more than 25 years.

A Master Sabre Coach and co-founder of Scarsdale Fencing Center in Scarsdale, United States. He has coached national-team athletes.

Today, Achiko is Benjamin’s primary coach and the central coaching figure in the current stage of his development — preparing him for international competition and the next level of his career.

Scarsdale Fencing Center

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Ben’s Longtime Coach

Alexander Lepeshinski

Belarusian-American international sabre coach with more than three decades of experience. A multiple-time Champion of Belarus, he holds a Master’s Degree in Physical Education with a specialization in fencing and has coached elite men’s and women’s athletes at national, international, NCAA and Olympic levels.

Lepeshinski coached Benjamin for many years and played an important role in shaping him as a sabre fencer during his formative development.

ALLE Fencing Club

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OLYMPIAN · CLUB FOUNDER

Ziad Elsissy

Egyptian Olympic sabre fencer, two-time Olympian, 2023 Individual World Championship bronze medalist, and the first African and Arab men’s sabre fencer to reach World No. 1.

He finished fourth individually at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games — the highest Olympic finish in Egyptian sabre history.

He still competes on the FIE circuit and is the founder and head coach of Z1 Fencing Club.

Explore Ziad’s story →

OLYMPIC ATHLETE + COACH / EDUCATOR / PROGRAM BUILDER

Tim Morehouse

Three-time U.S. Olympian, 2008 Olympic silver medalist in men’s team sabre, and two-time U.S. Individual National Champion.

Morehouse reached the individual quarterfinals at the London 2012 Olympic Games and represented the United States on nine Senior World Championship teams.

After a competitive career shaped by 15 years under four-time Olympian and USA Fencing Hall of Fame coach Yury Gelman, Morehouse founded Tim Morehouse Fencing Club and coaches national-level fencers.

Explore Tim’s story →

Other coaches and mentors

Benjamin has also learned from these coaches and mentors.

FIRST COACH

Mitch Berliner

A longtime South Florida sabre coach. Together with Daniel Berliner, he first opened the world of fencing to Benjamin and gave him his introduction to the sport.

MENTOR & REFEREE

Vladimir Lilov

A trusted mentor who has consistently supported Benjamin and offered thoughtful advice throughout tournaments. As a referee, he is respected for integrity, fairness and sound judgment.

SABRE COACH · NELLYA FENCERS CLUB

Konate Primus

A two-time U.S. National Champion and Junior World Cup silver medalist, Primus joined Nellya Fencers in 2018 after coaching at the Peter Westbrook Foundation.

SABRE COACH · TIM MOREHOUSE FENCING CLUB

Iba Keita

A former Junior African Champion from Senegal and FIE Master of Arms, with extensive international competitive and coaching experience.

SABRE COACH · NELLYA FENCERS CLUB

Terrence Lasker

Sabre coach at Nellya Fencers Club.

WORLD CHAMPION · FORMER WORLD NO. 1 · THREE-TIME OLYMPIAN

Eli Dershwitz

The 2023 Senior World Champion, the first American man to win an individual world title in sabre, a former World No. 1 and a three-time U.S. Olympian.

SABRE COACH

Ahmed “Hamdy” Refaee

An internationally experienced coach whose athletes have earned medals at major World Cup and international competitions.

Benjamin’s results →