They say that all good things must come to an end – athletic careers included.
This is why the International Fencing Federation (FIE) and its Athletes’ Commission have made it a priority to support fencers with their career development, with a special focus on helping senior athletes transition from active competition into long-term service roles within the sport. On 27 and 28 May, the FIE teamed up with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to deliver an Athlete365 Career+ Self Discovery Workshop designed to help athletes better understand and hone their unique professional skillsets.
Some 20 athletes representing nations from all five continents took part in the online classes, which were led by IOC Master Educator Sharon Springer, Head of Educational Programmes at the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Developed by ADECCO, the world’s leading talent solutions company, and HR professionals, the sessions were designed to give athletes greater insight into their personal strengths, values and future career considerations.
The highly engaging, interactive sessions challenged participants to better comprehend their individual strengths, values, and passions. From there, they explored strategic career pathways designed to deliver both impact and purpose.
"The FIE-IOC Career+ Self-Discovery Workshop was a transformative experience that helped me look beyond my athletic identity," said Monir Hossain of Bangladesh. "The 'Me Map' framework gave me clarity on my strengths, values, and purpose, the tools I'll use throughout my career transition. I'm grateful for the opportunity to invest in my future."
The Athlete365 Career+ Self Discovery Workshop is one of a number of educational opportunities the FIE provides to athletes at all levels around the world.
Fencing’s global governing body regularly organises training camps with educational components for athletes at major competitions. During the recent Junior and Cadet World Championships in Rio de Janeiro in April, for example, the FIE delivered an international training camp on athlete performance, welfare and education that was attended by over 80 young fencers.
The FIE is stepping up its efforts to support senior and retired fencers interested in career opportunities within fencing. To this end, it is committing significant resources, including a dedicated budget, and working with a range of stakeholders to develop educational pathways for roles such as technicians, commentators and referees, among others.
Members of the FIE family, including Commission delegates, referees, professional commentators and experts from other fields, are mobilised to contribute to the development of tailored programmes for fencers. The FIE Academy in Budapest will play a pivotal role in providing comprehensive support and equipping fencers to pursue both competitive and vocational pathways within sport.
The content, deadlines and registration process for these specialised courses will be provided in due course.
Elsewhere, the FIE will deliver a dedicated session on post-career opportunities in sport – and specifically in fencing – at the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026, scheduled to take place from 31 October to 13 November in Senegal. The session will be led by Algerian sabre specialist and Athlete Role Model Zohra Kehli.
The FIE encourages all athletes to familiarise themselves with the many opportunities provided free of charge by the IOC throughout the year. Applications still open for 2026 include those for the Athlete365 Business Accelerator (10 June), the Airbnb Athlete Travel Grant (early June), the Allianz Buddy Program (early June), and Athlete365 Mentoring (open in September).
Three-time Olympic sabreur Azza Besbes of Tunisia took the Athlete365 Business Accelerator course in 2025. After retiring from the sport in 2020 due to injuries, Besbes felt she still had unfinished business in the sport. Together with her husband she established her own fencing-specific footwear company called Azza Fencing and used the Business Accelerator programme to network with other athlete entrepreneurs with similar backgrounds and mindsets.
“I really loved the brainstorming sessions, hearing from so many athletes from different countries and at different stages of their businesses,” she said. “I got so much great feedback.”
You can read all about Besbes’ inspiring journey from athlete to entrepreneur on the official website of the IOCthe official website of the IOC.
Through initiatives such as the Athlete365 Career+ Self Discovery Workshop, the FIE is reaffirming its commitment to supporting athletes at every stage of their fencing journey.
By investing in education, personal development and career transition solutions, the Federation continues to help fencers build strong foundations for success both during and after their competitive careers, in alignment with the Strategic Development Plan for the current Olympic cycle.