1. Early life
Farès Ferjani was born on July 22, 1997, in Tunis, the capital city of Tunisia. He holds Tunisian nationality and has developed into a formidable athlete, standing at 6 ft tall and weighing 180 lb (180 lb).
2. Fencing career
Farès Ferjani's fencing career demonstrates a consistent trajectory of progression and achievement on both national and international stages, marked by his dedication and strategic move to enhance his training.
2.1. Early career and Olympic debut
Ferjani began his journey in fencing and quickly rose through the ranks to represent Tunisia internationally. His initial foray onto the Olympic stage occurred at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where he competed in the men's sabre event. He finished the competition in 25th place, marking his debut at the global sporting spectacle.
2.2. Training in the United States and university career
Following his participation in the 2016 Olympic Games, Ferjani made a significant decision to relocate to New York City in the United States to further his training. This move was influenced by discussions with renowned fencing coach Yury Gelman. Ferjani described this change as a pivotal moment in his development, noting, "it was a big difference. The practice was different. These guys do a lot of footwork. Everything counts, each detail counts. I think for me, it's just great that I moved there because I've jumped to another level."
While in New York City, he attended and competed for St. John's University in Queens, continuing his training under Coach Gelman. During his collegiate career, Ferjani distinguished himself as an All-American fencer. He earned second-team All-American honors in the 2017-18 season, and subsequently achieved first-team All-American status in the 2018-19, 2021-22, and 2022-23 seasons. His club affiliation in the United States is the Manhattan Fencing Center.
2.3. Major international achievements
Ferjani's international career is highlighted by a series of notable performances and medal wins across various prestigious competitions. He qualified to represent Tunisia once again at the 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic) in Tokyo, where he placed 22nd.
In 2019, he secured a gold medal in the individual sabre event at the 2019 African Games held in Salé, demonstrating his dominance at the continental level. His success in Africa continued, as he earned another gold medal in the team event at the 2024 African Fencing Championships in Casablanca.
The pinnacle of his career to date came at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where he competed in the men's individual sabre event. With Coach Gelman providing guidance from the sidelines, Ferjani delivered an exceptional performance, ultimately earning a silver medal. This achievement was particularly significant as he became the first individual fencer from St. John's University's Red Storm athletics program to medal at the Olympics since Daryl Homer in 2016, further solidifying his place in both Tunisian and collegiate fencing history.
3. Awards and decorations
On August 16, 2024, Farès Ferjani was awarded the First Class of the National Order of Merit by the Tunisian government. This prestigious national honor recognized his outstanding athletic achievements and his contribution to representing Tunisia on the international stage, particularly following his silver medal win at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
