USA Fencing CEO Phil Andrews on Growing Fencing in America: NCAA Programs, Marketing Push & the Road to LA 2028 | Direct Elimination Ep. 34

USA Fencing's CEO, Phil Andrews, reveals influencer and K-pop deals, a sport-saving radio campaign & what the sport's growth strategy is as we approach the LA 2028 Olympic Games. This episode will surprise you.The Fencing Podcast of All Fencing Podcasts.In this episode, you'll discover:• How USA Fencing became the ninth most mentioned brand on US radio in December (the only sport ever to achieve it) and why that matters more than Paris 2024 medal counts for long-term growth• The full celebrity and influencer strategy targeting LA 2028: from the Gardiner Brothers and Dolph Lundgren to Jenson Button and a K-pop activation designed to open fencing to entirely new audiences• Why the NCAA pipeline is central to USA Fencing's future, including new programs at Trinity College, HBCU outreach, and how membership growth is directly funding more athletes — including para fencing for the first time• What Phil Andrews actually walked into when he became CEO in 2022, and how a British ice hockey player ended up leading one of America's most storied Olympic sports federationsPhil Andrews has served as CEO of USA Fencing since 2022, previously leading USA Weightlifting. He is one of the most unconventional and candid executives in American Olympic sport.💬 What would it take for YOU to bring a friend to try fencing? Drop your answer below — Phil's actually thinking about this.⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00:00 - Intro & Welcome to the New York Athletic Club00:01:06 - US Fencing Foundation Gala00:03:02 - Phil Andrews' Background: From London 2012 to USA Fencing CEO00:05:10 - Stabilizing USA Fencing: Challenges Inherited in 202200:08:14 - USA Fencing's Mission to Grow & Popularize the Sport00:09:08 - iHeartMedia Deal & Radio Campaign Impact00:11:30 - Celebrity & Influencer Activations: Gardiner Brothers, Dolph Lundgren, Jenson Button00:13:59 - Community Outreach00:19:06 - Lowering the Barrier: How Fast Can Someone Try Fencing?00:20:38 - Paris 2024 Results vs. iHeartMedia Campaign Reach00:22:44 - NCAA Pipeline, HBCU Outreach & Trinity College Announcement00:24:19 - Athlete Funding Growth Across Weapons & Para Fencing00:25:56 - US Fencing's Rising International Competitive Results00:30:15 - One Light Answers00:35:05 - Closing Remarks 💬 BEST QUOTES"Fencing is not well enough respected in the circles that it should be. I think that's something that we're hoping to change between now. I think we've started to change it, and I think it's something we're hoping to change between now and 2028.""If 4 or 5 people from that [collaboration] go 'that looks cool, I want to go and try some fencing.' That is success.""[Fencing was] the ninth most mentioned brand on the US radio during December of last year, the only sport ever to have achieved that.""I like being the dumbest human in the room. Great news in fencing is I'm usually dumbest person in the room."Theme Song Written and Performed by Colin Campbell🔗 Connect with Colin📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/campbelltunes/?hl=en🔗 Connect with Phil Andrews🌐: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philandrews2📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.phil/?hl=en🔗 Connect with USA Fencing🌐: https://www.usafencing.org/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usafencing/Thank you for listening!🔗 Check out FencR🌐: https://www.fencr.app/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fencr.app🔗 Connect with Us🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple: https://link.me/directelimination📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directelimination/🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@directeliminationpodcast📺 Subscribe for more episodes: youtube.com/@DirectElimination🔗 Prieur USA🌐: https://www.prieurusa.com/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prieur_usa/