From washing dishes to own fencing school: how a Ukrainian coaches the US national team at the Olympic Games

Honored fencing coach of Ukraine Yuriy Gelman had to start his life in New York by washing dishes. Now on account of Yuri's participation in five Olympics as the head coach of the American fencing team and his own club in Manhattan. He was inducted into the United States Fencing Hall of Fame. The story of the Ukrainian was told by the publication "Voice of America".

“I came from Kiev, lived there for 36 years. I worked as a coach, got an honored coach of Ukraine, - says Gelman. - Nobody really knew that I would be leaving. We made this decision because of our daughter. She had skin complications. We went to the doctors, and they said that this is because of Chernobyl and it is desirable to change your place of residence. "

On November 1, 1991 Gelman left Ukraine.

“First I moved to Philadelphia, and literally a year later - to New York,” recalls the Ukrainian. - I was arranged to wash the dishes by acquaintance. In Kiev, I had a personal driver, and then I arrived and washed the dishes. Of course, it was not easy to agree to this, but I would never get this experience anywhere. "

“Then I made donuts on the market for probably a year and a half. I had to earn money, - says Gelman. - I made them myself. I always had a queue, I sold coffee, tea. I started at $ 4 per hour, then worked it up to $ 8. "

The Ukrainian was looking for a job related to fencing, but he was told everywhere that he was overqualified. That is, the company was looking for a candidate with a lower qualification, and therefore did not hire Yuri, whose knowledge was too much for this job. As a result, he managed to get into the fencing club, thanks to a friend.

“A friend of mine worked at a fencing club in New York. He called me and said that their coach was leaving. They accepted me, ”Gelman recalls.

“I trained 65 people at one time. I worked a lot, - says the Ukrainian. - Everything is simple here, I gave a lesson - I was paid, I did not give a lesson - I was left without money. You have to buy everything, so it worked. "

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“When I started working as a coach, my first condition for the students was this: I teach them fencing, and they teach me English,” the coach says. "If I said something wrong, they corrected me."

Gelman says that at first it was difficult to get used to, but over time he understood everything: “Now I already understand what is here and how. And at that time, all I knew, Americans were fools and did not understand anything. But this is not at all the case. They look at everything differently. "

“I am both dad and mom, and the overseer for my students. Sometimes I am very tough, sometimes very soft. We must find our own path to each person, says Gelman. - I love my students. First of all, you need to love people, children. Secondly, to love what you do. It is necessary to surrender to this. As soon as you give all of yourself to the cause, you become a good coach. "

Own fencing club

“My daughter Julia was one of the best fencers in the USA. She was in the top 5. When I decided to open a club, I showed her a business plan. I couldn't do it myself, I traveled a lot. At that time I was the coach of the national team, the head coach at St. John's University, and plus worked as an ordinary coach, - the Ukrainian recalls. - I just would not have pulled it alone. She quit her job and together we started to open a club. "

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“I have been working with him since I was 12, I was his first girl student. He learned with me how to work with other girls, ”says Yulia.

Helping talented athletes

“Fencing is a very expensive sport. And I understand very well that many people cannot afford it. We decided to raise money and help those who cannot afford to pay for their lessons. On Saturdays, we have free lessons for everyone who wants to, ”says the coach. “And if we see that someone from the class has the ability and desire to study, then we continue to sponsor him - we pay for lessons, buy equipment, send him to competitions.”

One of the girls who study thanks to the support of his foundation received a bronze medal at the last Olympics.

The Ukrainian notes that despite his status, he still learns something new every day: “We must always continue to learn. Never stop. I'm still learning. You can never say that you know everything. "