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Zoila Palacio (zpalacio_fencing@bellsouth.net) Zoila has been attending the United States Fencing Association Coaches College since 1992 and has received certification as Level 4 coach in foil and epee and Level 2 in saber. She received “Top of the Class” honor in Level 2, 3 and 4 epee classes. Zoila became part of the National Coaching Developmental Staff in 2001 and teaches at the Coaches College at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Zoila moved to Orlando, Fla., in 2004 and currently teaches Physical Education at Legacy Middle School. She has pioneered an after-school fencing program in conjunction with the YMCA. Her goal is to promote fencing in Central Florida by developing after-school programs and a successful fencing club. Dmitry Kovynev Dimitry moved to the United States 6 years ago, at age 20. He resumed fencing in state and national tournaments. From 2002 to 2006, he was the assistant epee coach at another Florida club. |
A native of Medellin, Colombia, Zoila moved to Brooklyn, NY, when she was 16. In 1988, she won the National Intercollegiate Women’s Fencing Association Foil Championship and made her third consecutive appearance in the finals of the Empire State Games. In 1990, Zoila graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from Brooklyn College. She received her M. Ed. in Exercise Physiology from Temple University, where she worked as the assistant coach for the nationally ranked Temple University Women’s Fencing Program from 1990 to 1997, and as the head epee and saber coach from 1997 to 2004. Additionally, she taught classes in the Kinesiology Department for 14 years. 
Dimitry was born in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, a former republic of the Soviet Union. He began fencing at age 9 and by age 12 was the Epee National Champion for his age group. At age 13, Dmitry earned a position on the Kyrgyzstan Cadet National Team. When he was 16, he finished in 6th place in the National Championship, in which teenage and adult fencers competed. Also at age 16, Dimitry received his Candidate of Master of Sport for Fencing. He later graduated from the Kyrgyz State University, where he earned his degree in Physical Education and certification as a fencing coach.