Masters Academy International Appoints Olympic Medalist Ralf Bissdorf as Director of USA Fencing’s First National Performance Center

USOPC Olympic Coach of the Year who led Team USA to historic first-ever fencing gold medal brings world-class expertise to groundbreaking academy partnership

STOW, MA. – Masters Academy International (MAI) today announced Ralf Bissdorf as Director of Fencing. He will lead the nation’s first dedicated National Performance Center and National Academy for Olympic and Paralympic fencing in partnership with USA Fencing. Bissdorf, who currently serves as Team USA’s Women’s Foil National Coach and will continue in that role, coached the U.S. Women’s Foil Team to the first-ever team gold medal in USA Fencing history at the 2024 Paris Olympics. For these efforts, Bissdorf was named USOPC Olympic Coach of the Year. He’ll bring this strong fencing pedigree to MAI when the academy opens in September 2026.

While MAI will host USA Fencing’s National Performance Center, its primary mission is to serve as a world-class academic home for middle and high school students who are passionate about both education and sport.

“Ralf represents the absolute pinnacle of fencing excellence—both as an Olympic silver medalist himself and as the coach who just led Team USA to a historic breakthrough on the world stage,” said Peter Masters, Co-Founder and Director of Athletics at MAI. “His unique perspective, having stood on both sides of the Olympic podium, makes him the perfect leader for this groundbreaking partnership with USA Fencing.”

The appointment comes as part of USA Fencing’s historic partnership with MAI, making it the first National Governing Body to unveil a comprehensive academy model with a National Performance Center in Massachusetts.

“Our partnership with MAI is a game-changer for our athletes, our membership, and the sport of fencing,” said Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing. “We’re taking the proven blueprint of sports and academic academies and are applying it to fencing, ensuring that today’s youth fencers — wherever they train — can see a clear pathway to collegiate and international success while establishing a year-round presence in a state that is a heartland of our sport.”

Bissdorf’s arrival strengthens MAI’s vision of creating an environment where student-athletes can learn, grow, and fence — all on a campus designed to support their full development.

Bissdorf brings extraordinary credentials spanning two decades of Olympic competition. As an athlete, he won Silver at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, became World Champion in 2002, earned four European Championships, and held the World No. 1 ranking for over 600 days. Germany awarded him the Silver Laurel Leaf, the nation’s highest sporting honor. More than 20 years after his Olympic medal, he returned to the Games as U.S. National Coach, leading the women’s foil team to their historic gold medal in Paris 2024 and World Championship in 2025.

“Working as a coach is one of the most rewarding jobs. If you work with younger athletes, you get to see them growing up and you are part of their journey through life,” said Bissdorf. “For high-level athletes, the fascination is to support them to give them the best chance of success. I myself competed at the Olympic Games 2000 and 2004 and know what it takes to work toward the pinnacle of sport.”

For MAI’s students, the fencing program will be woven into a full academic day, blending classroom learning with structured training opportunities that support long-term development. The fencing program at MAI will feature state-of-the-art training including competitive fencing, individual lessons, footwork, strength and conditioning, situational bouting, and technical and tactical development. The facility will include high-ceilings and expansive fencing halls, recovery suites, sport-science labs, and dedicated training centers designed specifically for the sport. Additional coaching announcements for epee and sabre to round out MAI’s fencing staff should be eagerly anticipated in the weeks ahead.

“It is our obligation to positively impact the lives of our students to make them better athletes, better students, and better members of society,” Bissdorf explained. “I’m excited to be part of the MAI team and this groundbreaking new school in Massachusetts.”

Bissdorf’s students have consistently achieved at the highest levels, with former athletes recruited to MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Brown, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, Duke and many more. His current and former students have won medals at Cadet, Junior, and Senior World Championships, qualified for Olympic Games, and become NCAA All-Americans.

Masters Academy International, part of Cognita’s global network of 100 schools, is pioneering a new model for student-athlete development. Located in Stow, MA, the $56 million complex will serve as the official home of the U.S. National Training Center for Olympic and Paralympic fencing, while providing comprehensive education for students in grades 6-12, along with a post-graduate program. Families are encouraged to connect with the admissions team at MAI here for an in-depth introduction to this groundbreaking opportunity for talented student-athletes.

About Masters Academy International: Masters Academy International is a groundbreaking boarding school opening in Fall 2026 that reimagines the student-athlete experience. Offering comprehensive academic programs alongside elite training in multiple sports, MAI provides students with the tools and support to excel in the classroom, on the field, and in life. Learn more at https://www.mastersacademyinternational.com/.

Media Contact: Mackenzie Weeden, Director of Marketing, Masters Academy International, media@mastersacademyinternational.com.