Cliff Bayer
Encyclopedia
Cliff Bayer is an American two-time Olympian foil
fencer
.
light sabres when they were children. Their mother, fearing damage to the furniture, took them to a fencing salle in New York City. Bayer began fencing at the age of 8, and competing internationally at the age of 16.
Cliff is now an investment banker for UBS Securities, covering the commercial aerospace industry.
, where he was enrolled in the Wharton School of Business. He also earned an MBA from Wharton.
in the Bronx, becoming the youngest national champion ever, at the age of 17—an honor that he held until 2007, when Gerek Meinhardt won the championship at the age of 16.
He won the U.S. National Championship again in 1997, 1998, and 2000.
, Bayer placed 34th in the individual foil competition, and was a member of the U.S. foil team that finished 10th.
Entering the 2000 Summer Olympics
, Bayer was ranked No. 8 in the world in foil. Bayer won his second round match over Sobczak of Poland (15–9), but lost in the third round to Young-Ho Kim (14–15), and was eliminated from the competition. placing 10th. Bayer was named the 2000 U.S. Olympic Committee male Fencing Athlete of the Year.
, Portugal.
Three months later, in St. Petersburg, Russia, he became the first American to win a World Cup title, winning the "World Championship Cup." At that competition, he routed 3-time world champion Goloubitsky of the Ukraine
15–6 in the quarterfinals before defeating 1995 world champion Chevtchenko of Russia 10–5 in the final. Bayer recalls that the Russian crowd was so shocked by the result that: "I looked into the crowd and saw 500 dropped jaws."
Bayer won a second World Cup title in April 2000 in Bonn, Germany, where defending Olympic champion Puccini of Italy was among his victims.
s, Bayer placed 12th in the individual foil event, and 11th in team foil. In his three previous World competitions (1995, 1997, and 1998), he had not fared better than 30th.
in Canada.
He was named first team All American in 1997 and 1998, and All-Ivy in 1998.
Bayer was honored in 1999 as the United States Olympic Committee
's Male Athlete of the Month for May, beating out canoe sprinter Nate Johnson, boxer Demetrius Hopkins
, and cycler Christian Vande Velde.
Bayer, who is Jewish, was the 2000 recipient of The New York Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Outstanding Jewish Scholastic Athlete of the Year Award.
He was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
Bayer was inducted into the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
Foil (fencing)
A foil is a type of weapon used in fencing. It is the most common weapon in terms of usage in competition, and is usually the choice for elementary classes for fencing in general.- Components:...
fencer
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
.
Fencing career
Bayer and his older brother, Greg, used to duel in their parents' living room with Luke SkywalkerLuke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...
light sabres when they were children. Their mother, fearing damage to the furniture, took them to a fencing salle in New York City. Bayer began fencing at the age of 8, and competing internationally at the age of 16.
Cliff is now an investment banker for UBS Securities, covering the commercial aerospace industry.
College
In 1996, he was the NCAA Foil Champion while at the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, where he was enrolled in the Wharton School of Business. He also earned an MBA from Wharton.
US Championships
Bayer won the U.S. National Championship in 1995, while still a senior at Riverdale Country SchoolRiverdale Country School
Riverdale Country School is a co-educational, independent, college-preparatory day school in New York City. One of the most competitive private schools in the nation, it is located on two campuses covering more than in the Riverdale section of The Bronx, New York.-History:Founded in 1907 by Dr...
in the Bronx, becoming the youngest national champion ever, at the age of 17—an honor that he held until 2007, when Gerek Meinhardt won the championship at the age of 16.
He won the U.S. National Championship again in 1997, 1998, and 2000.
Olympics
At the 1996 Summer Olympics1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
, Bayer placed 34th in the individual foil competition, and was a member of the U.S. foil team that finished 10th.
Entering the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, Bayer was ranked No. 8 in the world in foil. Bayer won his second round match over Sobczak of Poland (15–9), but lost in the third round to Young-Ho Kim (14–15), and was eliminated from the competition. placing 10th. Bayer was named the 2000 U.S. Olympic Committee male Fencing Athlete of the Year.
World Cup
In May 1999, Bayer became the first American to earn a medal at a senior men's World Cup event, taking the bronze medal in EspinhoEspinho, Portugal
Espinho is a city in Espinho Municipality in Portugal. It is a reputed beach resort and a zone of legal gambling with a casino - Casino Solverde. Its fair - Feira de Espinho, having been first organised in 1894, is well known in Portugal...
, Portugal.
Three months later, in St. Petersburg, Russia, he became the first American to win a World Cup title, winning the "World Championship Cup." At that competition, he routed 3-time world champion Goloubitsky of the Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
15–6 in the quarterfinals before defeating 1995 world champion Chevtchenko of Russia 10–5 in the final. Bayer recalls that the Russian crowd was so shocked by the result that: "I looked into the crowd and saw 500 dropped jaws."
Bayer won a second World Cup title in April 2000 in Bonn, Germany, where defending Olympic champion Puccini of Italy was among his victims.
World Championships
At the 1999 World ChampionshipWorld championship
A world championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best nation, team, individual in the world in a particular field. Certain sports do not have a world championship, instead...
s, Bayer placed 12th in the individual foil event, and 11th in team foil. In his three previous World competitions (1995, 1997, and 1998), he had not fared better than 30th.
Pan American Games
Bayer won a team silver medal at the 1999 Pan American GamesPan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
in Canada.
Hall of Fame & Awards
In 1996, Bayer was named U.S. Fencer of the Year.He was named first team All American in 1997 and 1998, and All-Ivy in 1998.
Bayer was honored in 1999 as the United States Olympic Committee
United States Olympic Committee
The United States Olympic Committee is a non-profit organization that serves as the National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee for the United States and coordinates the relationship between the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency and various...
's Male Athlete of the Month for May, beating out canoe sprinter Nate Johnson, boxer Demetrius Hopkins
Demetrius Hopkins
Demetrius Hopkins is an American boxer who fought in the light welterweight division.-Career:As an amateur, Hopkins was the 1999 National Golden Gloves Light welterweight champion....
, and cycler Christian Vande Velde.
Bayer, who is Jewish, was the 2000 recipient of The New York Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Outstanding Jewish Scholastic Athlete of the Year Award.
He was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
Bayer was inducted into the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.