Fencing
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Dmitri Lapkes, of Belarus, coaches the Buckeye sabre squad, joining the staff during the 2018-19 campaign. He served as the head coach of the national sabre team from 2015-18.
In 2025-26, Lapkes was named the USFCA National Women's Team Assistant Coach of the Year and the CCFC Women's Team Assistant Coach of the Year. He guided Natalia Botello to the CCFC and NCAA Regional titles, ending the year with the Buckeyes' first women's sabre NCAA championship.Â
He has been part of overall Midwest Collegiate Conference and Central Collegiate Fencing Conference team championships. The men's sabre squad has won five CCFC championships (2021, 22, 24, 25, 26) and three women's trophies (2021, 22, 23). Buckeyes have claimed seven conference individual sabre titles (2-MFC, 5-CCFC). During Lapkes' tenure, Ohio State sabre fencers have made 16 NCAA appearances.
A six-time Belarusian national champion, Lapkes competed at four Olympic Games (2000, 2004, 2008, 2012), including a fourth-place finish in Athens in 2004.
In World Cup competition, Lapkes claimed seven medals, including three gold. He also earned nine medals in Grand Prix events, including a gold in 2006. He earned silver in the team sabre event at the 2011 World Fencing Championships. He was part of three team World Cup Championships (2006, 2009, 2010).
Lapkes earned his master’s degree from the Belarussian State University of Physical Culture in Minsk, Belarus.
