Coaches
Meet the Team
Maestra Dorina Vaccaroni
Dorina Vaccaroni is a three-time Olympic medalist in foil fencing, earning bronze, silver, and gold across the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Games. After her fencing career, she transitioned into ultra-endurance cycling, completing the grueling Race Across America multiple times and setting an age-group record in 2023.
Today, she brings her Olympic-level discipline and passion to coaching at Elite International Fencers Club, mentoring the next generation in San Diego of fencers with a focus on technique, mental toughness, and high performance.
Coach Mikyung Lim
Coach Mikyung is a former Korean National Team foil fencer, earning individual and team gold at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games and silver medals at the 2002 Beijing Asian Games. She also represented Korea at the World Championships for 10 years, competing at the highest international level throughout her 30-year fencing career.
After retiring from competition, she coached the Korean Women’s National Team before moving to Los Angeles, where she spent three years developing top-level athletes.
Today, she brings her elite experience and technical expertise to Elite International Fencers Club, training the next generation om San Diego with a focus on discipline, precision, and competitive excellence.
Maestro Andrea Cipressa
Andrea Cipressa is the Director of Foil for the Italian Fencing Federation and the former head coach for Italy’s national team. He won a gold medal in the team foil event at the 1984 Summer Olympics, bringing decades of elite experience to Elite International Fencers Club.
From 2013 to 2021, Andrea coached Italy’s Olympic foil team, leading them to a remarkable three Olympic medals: 🥇 1 Gold, 🥈 1 Silver, and 🥉 1 Bronze—a testament to his leadership and technical excellence on the world stage.
His daughter, Erica Cipressa, is also an accomplished foil fencer and bronze medalist from the 2021 Olympic Games.
Today, Andrea shares his world-class expertise and passion for fencing to train and inspire the next generation in San Diego at Elite International Fencers Club.
Coach Vladimir Ernesto
Prieto Cordova
Coach Vladimir is an ambidextrous international fencing coach and FIE-certified referee with over 17 years of experience leading Venezuela’s national team in both junior and senior categories until 2021. He has coached at top international events including the Pan American Games, Military World Games, World Cups, and Olympic qualifiers such as Rio 2016.
His coaching philosophy combines precision, adaptability, and a passion for the sport—shaped by years of experience on the global stage.
Today, Coach Vladimir brings his world-class expertise to Elite International Fencers Club, where he is committed to training and inspiring the next generation of champions in San Diego.
Coach James Roberts
Owner & Director of Operations
Coach James Roberts brings over 25 years of experience in fencing as both an athlete and coach. A three-time state champion at North Haven High School, Roberts went on to compete at the Division I level for Sacred Heart University, where he served as captain of the men’s team for three years. Under his leadership, the Pioneers captured back-to-back NFC Championships in 2010 and 2011.
Roberts is the founder of Fairfield Fencing Academy (FFA), where he has developed athletes to excel at the regional, national, and collegiate levels. In 2022, FFA fencers swept the podium with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishes in Team Men’s Foil at the Connecticut state championships. His students consistently rank among the Top 8 in youth, cadet, and junior regional competitions, earning top regional points and national medals, including a 5th place finish in Division I Women’s Foil at the October 2022 NAC.
Many of Roberts’ athletes have gone on to compete at some of the top collegiate fencing programs in the country, including Yale University, Columbia University, Haverford College, Vassar College, Sacred Heart University, Stevens Tech, Boston College, and Penn State University.
As Owner and Director of Operations at Momentum Fencing Academy (MFA) and Elite International Fencers Club (EIFC), Roberts brings his deep passion for fencing and proven track record of developing champions to create a world-class training environment. His vision is to build a pathway for fencers of all levels—from beginner athletes to elite international competitors—supported by a high-performance coaching team and state-of-the-art facilities.
> “I have done many sports, but no sport is as challenging and rewarding as fencing,” Roberts reflects.
“Competing all my life and now watching my athletes train and succeed is more fulfilling than even my greatest personal victories.”
