Mark Midler

Mark Petrovich Midler (Russian: Марк Петрович Мидлер; 24 September 1931 – 31 May 2012) was a Soviet Russian foil fencer. He competed at four Olympic Games and won two gold medals.

Fencing career

Midler was a member of the USSR National Fencing Team between 1951 and 1967. He trained at Burevestnik in Moscow.

World Championships

Midler won four consecutive World Championships in Foil, in 1959 to 1962. He also won a silver medal in 1957 and bronze medals in 1959 and 1961. Along with his Soviet teammates, he won the World Team Championshipsin Foil five times: in 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, and 1966. They also won a silver medal in 1967.

Olympics

Midler was captain of the Foil team for the 1960 Olympic Games and the 1964 Olympic Games. They won the gold medal in Team Foil at both Olympics.

Coaching career

Midler coached fencing for the Olympic teams of the Soviet Union and Russia.

Awards

Midler, who was Jewish, was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1983. In 1960 he was awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor.