Having competed in national and international fencing competitions for two decades, Elaine Cheris stands as one of the all-time great U.S. fencers. Also well known as an instructor and administrator, she owns and operates the Cheyenne Fencing and Modern Pentathlon Center, where she has instructed many notable students, including pop music star Jimmy Buffett. She also has been the chairperson for two World Championships (1989 senior, 1993 Under-20 and Under-17) and the Coach of the Junior World Team. Cheris was the #1 ranked fencer in the United States in 2000 and the highest-ranking American internationally 1998-1999. She is a three-time Olympian (1980, 1988, 1996), a member of various teams including the 1988 women's foil team, the 1996 Atlanta women's epee team, the 1987 Pan American Games gold medal women's foil team, and the gold medal women's epee team in 1991. Cheris was also a member of the U.S. World Championships team in epee six times (1990-1994, 1998) and in foil three times (1982, 1985, 1987). She graduated from Troy State University in 1970 with a degree in Physical Education/Psychology. She resides in Denver, Colorado.