Josh Runyan, UC San Diego’s associate head fencing coach, can add world champion to his impressive list of career achievements.
That’s because he won a gold medal at the 2019 World Veterans Fencing Championships in Cairo earlier this month.
“After the initial joy of winning the final touch, the honor of the medal ceremony, and standing at attention for our national anthem, what I felt was gratitude,” Runyan said.
His wife, retired UCSD Head Fencing Coach Heidi Runyan, coached him at the meet. He is now a three-time medalist at the championships. He took silver in 2011 and bronze last year. In addition, he is a seven-time member of the U.S. Veterans World Team.
Runyan competed in the men’s saber 60-69 age group in Cairo. In pool bouts, the fifth seed defeated competitors from Canada, France, Great Britain, Italy and Japan.
Runyan then entered the 10-touch direct elimination rounds as the No. 4 seed. He prevailed over fellow American Jeffrey Gueble, the No. 5 seed, and two others, to advance to the semifinals.
He took on Italian Alberto Feira Chios in the semis. Chios, as the No. 8 seed upset top-seeded Giulio Paroli, also from Italy. Runyan fell behind 4-0 to Chios, but the Triton coach won the next 10 touches, sending him to the gold-medal bout to face Geza Kas of France.
Kas came to Cairo as the reigning world champion.
Runyan and Kas stayed close in the match. Runyan scored two consecutive touches to take an 8-6 advantage. However, Kas want on a three-point run to go up 9-8. Showing resilience, Runyan battled to score the next two points and earn the title.
The Triton coach began fencing in college at Cal State Los Angeles and later trained in saber. He has been on five U.S. Armed Forces Fencing Teams at the Military World Championships and is a six-time Pacific Coast individual saber champion.
Runyan spent four years on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps and nine years flying F-14’s for the U.S. Navy. He is also a commercial airline captain.
Entering his 17th season with the Tritons, Runyan holds certifications of master in saber and prevot in foil from the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association. He was named the 2015 Western Fencing Conference Coach of the Year.
– Staff reports
