Our coaches provide the best guidance and instruction that will lead our fencers to success.
Dmitri Romankov
Advanced Program Head Coach – Foil
Coach Dmitri Romankov is one of the world’s premier foil coaches. A former member of the Cadet, Junior, and Senior Belarusian National Team, he won national championships and represented Belarus at World Cups, European Championships, and World Championships. He retired from competitive fencing at age 24.
Fencing is in Coach Romankov’s blood. His family’s legacy in the sport spans generations and includes some of fencing’s most iconic figures. His father, Vladimir, was a world champion, and his uncle, Alexandr Romankov, is widely regarded as one of the greatest foil fencers of all time.
He holds a Master’s Degree in Physical Education and Sport from the Belarusian State University of Physical Education and has completed advanced training in coaching and national team management. His educational background also includes studies at the Belarus Olympic College, where he began his formal training in high-performance athletics.
Following his career as a professional athlete, Dmitri transitioned into coaching, bringing his elite-level experience and deep-rooted passion for fencing to developing athletes around the world. Over the years, he has worked with national teams and top collegiate programs, including the Taiwanese and Belarusian National Teams, Stanford University, The Ohio State University, and the SCAD-Atlanta Varsity Fencing Team. His coaching has produced athletes who have earned national titles and medaled at European, World, and Olympic-level competitions.
Oswaldo Ortega
Intermediate Program Head Coach – Foil, Epee and Saber
Maestro Oswaldo Ortega comes from a proud family of fencers in Venezuela, where his passion for the sport first took root. He competed internationally in both sabre and foil, earning multiple podium finishes with the Venezuelan national team. He later trained in Paris, France, at the renowned Institute of Sport and Physical Education, one of the most respected fencing programs in the world, where he earned the prestigious title of Maestro.
During his time in Europe, he was named Coach of the Year in 1988. He went on to coach the Venezuelan National Team for ten years before relocating to the United States in 1996, where he continued his coaching career with the U.S. Junior National Team for four years.
Maestro Oswaldo’s students have earned exceptional results at the regional, national, and international levels. Many of them have won national championships and consistently achieved top placements across competitive circuits. While his list of accomplishments is too extensive to include in full, his legacy is reflected in the continued success of his athletes.
Eric Paracka
Administrator / Foil Coach
Current administrator and assistant coach of EPIC Fencing Club Atlanta. Having received his master’s degree in Biblical Archaeology, Eric Paracka has been involved in fencing for over twenty years. In his youth he competed at the regional and national levels as one of the top-performing fencers within the Southeast U.S.
Eric currently acts as Epic Fencing’s administrator of operations and coach, as well as the current volunteer assistant coach for SCAD-Atlanta’s Varsity Fencing Team. He always pushes his fencers to be the very best physically and mentally. Eric has been a part of the EFCA family since its outset; his contributions are highly impactful to the growth and development of Epic Fencing Club Atlanta.
Giulia Balicchia
Adult Program Head Coach & Beginner and Intermediate Program Coordinator -Foil
Coach Giulia Balicchia has a long-standing background in fencing. She competed at Cadet, Junior, and Senior World Cups, representing the Italian National Team, and won multiple national championships, both individually and team with the renowned Club Scherma Jesi, her home club in Italy. In addition to her competitive career, she also served as a referee in Italy’s youth national circuit.
After a break and moving to the United States, Coach Giulia returned to fencing in 2016, beginning a new chapter as both a coach and a dedicated fencing mom to Caterina and Francesco Fedeli. Under the valuable work of Coach Dmitri and Coach Ortega, she has supported her children as they’ve grown through the sport and achieved success at national and international levels.
At Epic Fencing Club, Coach Giulia leads the Adult class and coordinates the Beginner and Intermediate program. She works alongside several of Epic’s advanced fencers who assist with coaching. Coach Giulia also plays an important role in welcoming new families to the club, helping young fencers and parents get settled and feel part of the Epic community.