Alexander Andreas Tofalides (born March 13, 1993) is a Cypriot fencer specializing in the foil. He qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics, becoming the first fencer to represent Cyprus at the Olympic Games.[3]
| Alexander Tofalides | |
|---|---|
 Alexander Tofalides at a competition | |
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Alexander Andreas Tofalides |
| Nickname(s) | Alex |
| Born | March 13, 1993 London, England |
| Nationality |  Cyprus,  United Kingdom |
| Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)[1] |
| Weight | 70 kg (154 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Weapon | Foil |
| Hand | Left-handed |
| Club | Inspion Sports |
| Head coach | Benjamin Peggs[2] |
Early life and education
editTofalides was born in London, England. He began fencing at the age of seven.[4] He balanced his fencing career with his academic pursuits at University College London (BA 2015)[3] and the London School of Economics and Political Science (MSc 2017).[4]
Fencing career
editYouth competitions
editTofalides represented Great Britain at the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics, finishing in seventh place in the individual boys' foil event.[3] Representing Great Britain until 2016, he was Individual Senior British Champion in 2013,[3] World Cup Bronze Medalist with Great Britain in Bonn 2014,[3] and Gold Medalist at the 2015 European Games in Baku with Team GB.[5]
Transition to Cyprus
editSwitching to represent Cyprus, Tofalides won his first gold medal at the FIE Men’s Foil Competition Satellite in Antalya, Turkey, in 2016.[4] His performances have significantly raised the profile of fencing in Cyprus.[4]
Olympic qualification
editAt the Tokyo 2020 European Olympic Qualifying event, Tofalides lost in the final to qualify for the Olympics.[6] Three years later, Tofalides secured his place at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris by winning the Europe Zonal Qualifying Tournament held in Differdange, Luxembourg.[7][2] This achievement marked a historic moment as he became the first Cypriot fencer to qualify for the Olympic Games.[7]
Style and technique
editTofalides is known for his determination and famously beat Marcus Mepstead 4-1 in the British Championships, demonstrating his strategic and tactical versatility. His ability to read opponents and adapt his tactics mid-bout has been key to his success. He continues to refine his skills under the guidance of top coaches.[2]
Personal life
editBeyond fencing, Tofalides is committed to promoting sports among the youth in Cyprus.[8] He is also an advocate for mental health awareness, emphasizing the importance of psychological well-being for athletes.[8]
Achievements
edit
References
edit- ^ "Alex Tofalides". Taipei 2017 Summer Universiade. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "UK Cypriot Alex Tofalides qualifies for Olympics in fencing". Cypriots Worldwide. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
- ^ a b c d e f "Rosowsky Sixth at World University Games". British Fencing. British Fencing Association. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
- ^ a b c d "Alexander Tofalides wins gold in his first fencing tournament representing Cyprus". Parikiaki. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
- ^ "Alex Tofalides wins European Games gold". Parikiaki. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
- ^ "When I lost in final 2021 Tokyo qualification". FIE. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
- ^ a b "Alex Tofalides qualifies for Olympics in fencing". Parikiaki. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
- ^ a b "About us – Inspion Sports". Inspion Sports. Retrieved 2024-06-07.
- ^ "Alexander Tofalides wins Gold in his first fencing tournament representing Cyprus | Parikiaki Cyprus and Cypriot News". December 13, 2016.