LAUSANNE, Switz., Aug. 17, 2023 – The FIE is saddened to learn of the recent passing of Julio Cesar Gonzalez Tirador (CUB), who was an FIE international referee and a member of the FIE Scales of Votes (1993 – 1996) and Rules (2000 – 2008) commissions. He was born on June 20, 1942.
Gonzalez Tirador served as an FIE Category “B” referee in three weapons for 31 years. He also worked on technical directories (DTs) for numerous world cups, Senior and Junior and Cadet World Championships and the Olympic Games in Athens 2004. As part of his work, he completed several FIE technical courses in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
At a continental level, he served as the Vice President of the Pan American Fencing Confederation and was the Secretary-General and Technical Director for the Ibero-American Fencing Confederation. Gonzalez Tirador also served on the DT for eight Pan American Games as well as other regional competitions in Cuba and Latin America.
He was a fencer who was in the Cuban “National Epee Selection”, and an advanced coach in three weapons. Gonzalez Tirador also was a “methodologist” of the Cuban Fencing Federation.
His education included earning a doctorate in pedagogical sciences and a degree in physical culture with a specialization in fencing, and he later worked as an assistant professor at the “Manuel Fajardo” Higher Institute of Physical Culture.
The FIE extends its sincere condolences to Julio Cesar Gonzalez Tirador’s family and friends, the Cuban Fencing Federation and the Pan-American Fencing Confederation. We express our deepest sympathy to them during this difficult time.