Shaimaa Elgammal

Biography

Shaimaa Elgammal joined Duke as an assistant coach overseeing foil in September, 2024. Duke’s foilists had a strong season in Elgammal’s first campaign with the Blue Devils. The four-time Olympian helped four athletes earn NCAA Championship bids with Rachel Koo and Dayaal Singh garnering All-America honors. The Blue Devils took 12th at the NCAA Championships with just four fencers competing. A native of Egypt, Elgammal competed in the women's foil events at the 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, becoming her nation's first female competitor to appear in four Olympic games. Elgammal was an individual fencer in all four games for Egypt while adding team responsibilities in 2008 and 2012. She helped Egypt place eighth as a team in 2008 and ninth in 2012. Her highest individual finish was 23rd in 2004. As the national coach, Elgammal helped Yara El Sharkawy to the 2021 Olympic games and to more than 20 African medals and more than eight Mediterranean medals. Elgammal also served as the head coach at Katameya Petorsport Club from 2016-23. A Certified Expert Foil Coach from the International Fencing Federation (FIE), Elgammal has attended three FIE International Training Camps. She also went through the International Coaching Enrichment Certificate Program in 2018 and graduated with honors. As part of the program, participants presented on improving coaching infrastructure in their home countries. Elgammal gained additional international experience last August by leading a