Justin Tausig, EdD, LMHC (Class of 2017) was named to the USA Fencing Hall of Fame. The New York native started fencing when he was 12-years-old and went on to become a World Cup Medalist and a six-time member of the U.S. National Fencing Team. Dr. Tausig trained in Paris at the Racing Club de France for 11 years and was a student of Olympian Giorgio Santelli, and fencing masters Stefan Riboud and Daniel Levavasseur.
The induction ceremony for the Hall of Fame will be held in the summer of 2020.
“When I first heard that I had been elected to the USA Fencing Hall of Fame, I was overcome with gratitude,” said Dr. Tausig. “Many people contributed directly and indirectly to my fencing career and this is very much about them too. Then I thought about what I will say at the induction ceremony, particularly to my children. I want them to know that anything is possible in life, if they are willing to work for it.”
What does it mean to you to be named to the USA Fencing Hall of Fame?
It really speaks to the level of my fencing over the entirety of my career. I worked very hard to achieve what I did at a time when USA Fencing was not as strong as it is now. For the USA Fencing membership to vote me into the Hall of Fame is a tremendous sign of respect and a recognition by my peers, especially the first time I was on the ballot! I am really humbled and amazed that there is a place for me in the USA Fencing Hall of Fame.
How did fencing influence your career path towards becoming a Clinical Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC)?
My fencing was very cerebral and based around adaptation rather than trying to overwhelm my opponent. The method I came up, which I called STAR (Selective Tactical Adaptive Response) kept the other fencer off balance enough to allow me to get wins against Olympic Medalists and World Champions. After I retired from competing, it made sense to get clinical training and help athletes make even more use of the mental side of sports than I did! Getting the CMPC has allowed me to do that.
What life lessons did participating in fencing provide you?
Fencing has given me everything I have. My personality, my profession and my family all comes from my involvement with the sport. It seems a bit archaic to say that I owe everything I have to the sword, but it happens to be true. I also learned discipline, self-reliance, and patience, to name just a few elements.