Mika'il Sankofa
Encyclopedia
Mika'il Sankofa is a world recognized sabre fencer
and coach. He competed in the individual and team sabre
events at the 1984
, 1988
and 1992 Summer Olympics
.
, Peter Frohlich
, Szabo Adrosh, Christian Bauer and Lazlo Szepesi.
A graduate of New York University
with a BA in Economics, Sankofa is a former publicist who has worked for firms such as Ernst & Young
, Grey Advertising, Kirshenbaum
, Bond & Partners and Shandwick International.
Since 1990, Sankofa has served as co-founder, director of athletics and fencing coach for the Peter Westbrook Foundation. He is responsible for running a year-round class for over 200 participants, including a number of elite-level athletes. Sankofa's students have included three NCAA champions, three national champions, two junior world team members, the 2005 Junior Olympic
men's cadet and junior sabre champions, the 2005 Junior Olympic women's sabre champion and the 2005 National cadet men's sabre champion.
Sankofa also serves as head fencing coach at the United Nations International School as well as the head sabre coach at the Ross School's summer program in East Hampton, NY
. He runs the Sankofa Sabre Camp in East Hampton, conducts clinics and does color commentary for fencing competitions around the country. In 2006, Sankofa received his Maestro’s degree with honors from Semmelweis University
in Budapest, Hungary.
Sankofa served as the head coach for the Stevens Institute of Technology
Men's fencing team through the 2008-09 season, but has since left the school.
Sankofa served as an analyst for NBC Sports
coverage of Fencing at the 2008 Summer Olympics
.
in 1984
, 1988
and 1992
, and reached the pinnacle of his sport when he captured U.S. national sabre championships in both 1991 and 1992.
He took part in the Pan-American Games as member of Sabre Team Silver in 1987 and 1991. In addition, Sankofa was a ten-time National Team Sabre Champion 1984, '85, '86, '87, '88, '90, '91, '92, '94, and '95.
Sankofa was also a four-time NCAA champion for the Violets – capturing the sabre title in 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987. He is the only male fencer to ever win four NCAA individual championships.
Sabre (fencing)
The sabre is one of the three weapons of modern sport fencing, and is alternatively spelled saber in American English. The sabre differs from the other modern fencing weapons, the épée and foil, in that it is possible to score with the edge of the blade; for this reason, sabreur movements and...
and coach. He competed in the individual and team sabre
Sabre (fencing)
The sabre is one of the three weapons of modern sport fencing, and is alternatively spelled saber in American English. The sabre differs from the other modern fencing weapons, the épée and foil, in that it is possible to score with the edge of the blade; for this reason, sabreur movements and...
events at the 1984
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
, 1988
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
and 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
.
Background
During his fencing career Mika'il Sankofa trained under Tanya Adamovich, Csaba ElthesCsaba Elthes
Maestro Csaba Elthes was a fencing master who immigrated to the U.S. to become the coach to the U.S. Olympic Bronze Medalist in 1984, Peter Westbrook. Elthes trained many Olympic competitors in the 1960s through 1980s....
, Peter Frohlich
Péter Fröhlich
Péter Fröhlich of Hungary in a noted sabre coach and was British Olympic coach in 1992, 1996 and 2000. He coached many members of the Hungarian team at Under-20 and senior level in 1999-2001....
, Szabo Adrosh, Christian Bauer and Lazlo Szepesi.
A graduate of New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
with a BA in Economics, Sankofa is a former publicist who has worked for firms such as Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms, along with Deloitte, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers ....
, Grey Advertising, Kirshenbaum
Kirshenbaum
Kirshenbaum, sometimes called ASCII-IPA or erkIPA, is a system used to represent the International Phonetic Alphabet in ASCII. This way it allows typewriting IPA-symbols by regular keyboard. It was developed for Usenet, notably the newsgroups sci.lang and alt.usage.english...
, Bond & Partners and Shandwick International.
Since 1990, Sankofa has served as co-founder, director of athletics and fencing coach for the Peter Westbrook Foundation. He is responsible for running a year-round class for over 200 participants, including a number of elite-level athletes. Sankofa's students have included three NCAA champions, three national champions, two junior world team members, the 2005 Junior Olympic
AAU Junior Olympic Games
The AAU Junior Olympic Games are the pinnacle competition held annually by the US Amateur Athletic Union.-Sports currently held:The following is a list of sports that currently take place at the Junior Olympic Games.* Aquatics - Diving and Swimming...
men's cadet and junior sabre champions, the 2005 Junior Olympic women's sabre champion and the 2005 National cadet men's sabre champion.
Sankofa also serves as head fencing coach at the United Nations International School as well as the head sabre coach at the Ross School's summer program in East Hampton, NY
East Hampton (town), New York
The Town of East Hampton is located in southeastern Suffolk County, New York, at the eastern end of the South Shore of Long Island. It is the easternmost town in the state of New York...
. He runs the Sankofa Sabre Camp in East Hampton, conducts clinics and does color commentary for fencing competitions around the country. In 2006, Sankofa received his Maestro’s degree with honors from Semmelweis University
Semmelweis University
Founded in 1769, Semmelweis University is the oldest medical school in Hungary. The faculty became an independent medical school after the Second World War and developed into a university teaching medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, health sciences, health management as well as physical education and...
in Budapest, Hungary.
Sankofa served as the head coach for the Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology
Stevens Institute of Technology is a technological university located on a campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, USA – founded in 1870 with an 1868 bequest from Edwin A. Stevens. It is known for its engineering, science, and technological management curricula.The institute has produced leading...
Men's fencing team through the 2008-09 season, but has since left the school.
Sankofa served as an analyst for NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
coverage of Fencing at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Fencing at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Fencing competitions at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics were held from August 9 to August 17 at the Olympic Green Convention Center.-Medal table:-Men's events:-Women's events:- Events :10 sets of medals were awarded in the following events:...
.
Records
Sankofa had an outstanding career as a competitive sabre fencer. He was a member of the United States Olympic TeamUnited States at the Olympics
The United States of America has sent athletes to every celebration of the modern Olympic Games, except the 1980 Summer Olympics, which it boycotted.The United States Olympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee for the United States....
in 1984
United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics
The United States was the host nation of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. It was the nineteenth time that Team USA participated, having boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics...
, 1988
United States at the 1988 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. 527 competitors, 332 men and 195 women, took part in 230 events in 27 sports.- Gold:* Jay Barrs — Archery, Men's Individual Competition...
and 1992
United States at the 1992 Summer Olympics
- Gold:* Michael Marsh — Athletics, Men's 200 metres* Quincy Watts — Athletics, Men's 400 metres* Kevin Young — Athletics, Men's 400 m Hurdles...
, and reached the pinnacle of his sport when he captured U.S. national sabre championships in both 1991 and 1992.
He took part in the Pan-American Games as member of Sabre Team Silver in 1987 and 1991. In addition, Sankofa was a ten-time National Team Sabre Champion 1984, '85, '86, '87, '88, '90, '91, '92, '94, and '95.
Sankofa was also a four-time NCAA champion for the Violets – capturing the sabre title in 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987. He is the only male fencer to ever win four NCAA individual championships.
Hall of Fame
In 1994, he was inducted into the NYU Sports Hall of Fame, and in the summer of 2005, he was inducted into the United States Fencing Association Hall of Fame.Notable Students
Notable students include:- Adam Crompton, 2003-2004 NCAA Men's Sabre Champion, 2003 Pan-American Sabre Team Champion.
- Ras Davidson, 2005 National Cadet Men's Sabre Champion, 2005 Junior Olympic Cadet Sabre Champion, 2005 Junior Olympic Junior Sabre Champion.
- Ibitihaj Muhammad, 2005 Junior Olympic Junior Women's Sabre Champion.
- Thomas Seery, Sabre fencer (Fencing Center of Long Island) 2003
- Michael McInerney, Sabre fencer (Fencing Center of Long Island) 2003
- Evan Campanella, Sabre fencer (Fencing Center of Long Island) 2003