WELLESLEY, Mass. -- Wellesley College Director of Athletics Bridget Belgiovine announced the upcoming retirement of fencing head coach Gamil Kaliouby at the conclusion of the academic year. Kaliouby ends his career after two tenures totaling 19 years at the helm of the Blue fencing program, from 1992-1998 and again from 2002-2015.

"We thank Gamil for all he has done for the sport of fencing and as a teacher-coach at Wellesley," said Belgiovine. "He has had a significant impact on the lives of numerous students as a fencing instructor and coach. His passion for the sport and commitment to competitive success were evident each season as he trained, prepared and watched our fencers compete."

A world-renowned fencer in all three weapons, Kaliouby won the foil gold medal in the 1959 Mediterranean games and took fourth place in sabre at the event in 1971. He was the runner-up at the Military World Championships in foil in both 1961 and 1965 and was the foil gold medal winner at the Berlin International Championships in 1966. Kaliouby has also competed in three Olympics, in Rome (1960), Tokyo (1964) and Mexico City (1968), as well as in the World Fencing Championships in 1961 and 1971. In the 1964 Tokyo Games, he was a quarterfinalist in foil.

Kaliouby leaves an enduring legacy at Wellesley, having coached numerous NCAA regional qualifying fencers and five New England champions, including 1994-95 NCAA All-American and Most Outstanding Epee fencer Heidi Chang. Outside of Wellesley, Kaliouby also coached Heidi's brother Greg, who went on to become a member of the fourth-place U.S. Olympic foil team at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. In 2009, Kaliouby, along with assistant coach Rob Charlton, earned Northeast Fencing Conference Coaching Staff of the Year Honors. Additionally, he served as a member of the NCAA Northeast Regional Advisory Committee for men's and women's fencing from 1993-95.

Kaliouby has also served as head coach at Holy Cross and Boston University, as well as assistant coach at Harvard. Outside of the college arena, he has coached at both the Boston Fencing Club and the Academy of Fencing.

A member of the United States Fencing Coaches Association, Kaliouby holds a bachelor's degree in law from Ain Shims University in Cairo, Egypt as well as a Master's degree in military service from the Military Academy, also in Cairo. He is an internationally rated director in foil (Class A) and epee (Class B), having spent over 60 years involved with the sport. 

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Photos Courtesy Pamela Wang