Ranked in the top 5 amongst American fencers and 10 internationally, Tim Morehouse has fought his way to the top of his sport. Tim has harnessed hard work, focus, and talent to forge a unique life as an Olympic medalist, motivational speaker, and inspirational teacher. From humble beginnings as a wild kid who was almost kicked off the Riverdale Country School fencing team, Tim has battled past every obstacle standing between him and Olympic glory.
 
In the process, Tim has continued to give back to the sport he loves and his community. He founded TenThousandFencers.com, an online community that encourages people to try their hands at the sport of fencing. As a former public school teacher and staff member for Teach for America, Tim became active and positive influence in the lives of his students and his community. Tim has spread his message of hard work and success beyond his classroom, speaking to and inspiring over 6,000 children and young people across the country. Tim is the National Spokesperson for Kids Fitness, an organization working to fight the issues of childhood obesity in America.
 
As one of the stars fueling fencing's rising popularity, Tim Morehouse has broken the mold for the profile of and possibilities for emerging-sport Olympic athletes. Tim's athletic achievements and community work has been recognized and featured on the Today Show, Oprah, and Happy Hour on Fox Business. He is the subject of an Emmy Award-winning television documentary, "My First Time: Competing at the Olympics," and he has appeared in Esquire, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, Metro Sports New York, ESPN, and Vanity Fair. Tim has made presentations to audiences across America including, General Electric, Hugo Boss, and Google. On September 22, 2008, Tim's achievements were honored in the United States House of Representatives by Congressman L. Engel of New York.
 
Track Record of Success
 
For the past eight seasons, Tim has trained under US National Coach Yury Gelman, and he currently represents the Manhattan Fencing Center in New York City. A three-time All-American, Tim competed for Brandeis University from 1996-2000 and in 2000, he was voted the NCAA Men's Saber Fencer of the year while leading the Division III Brandeis Judges to a top-10 finish at the Division I NCAA Championships. He is a five-time member of the US Senior National Team and won a silver medal as a member of the 2008 Beijing Olympic team.
 
Defying the Odds
 
Tim was almost kicked off the fencing team in the 7th grade, his first year as a competitor, because of his wild and erratic behavior at practice. He was not the best fencer on his high school team, was not recruited by any of the major Division I fencing colleges, and did not even make a national competition quarter-final until after his graduation from Brandeis.
 
Never considered a natural athlete, and lacking any financial backing, Tim's ambitious goal of making the 2004 Athens Olympic Team was regarded as a pipe dream by his peers. Yet, despite these obstacles, and his lack of classical form, Tim beat the odds. It's a rarity for someone to break through in their late twenties, but Morehouse did so, improving his national ranking each year since 2000 before going on to medal in the 2008 Olympics. He now intends to win an individual medal at the 2012 games in London.
 
Educator
 
Since 2000, Tim has simultaneously pursued his other passion, education. Tim attained his master's in teaching from Pace University in 2003 and became a fully certified New York City schoolteacher. He joined Teach For America, a program to eliminate educational inequity by enlisting the nation's most promising future leaders to teach. Tim taught 7th grade for three years at Mirabal Sisters School in Washington Heights, New York City.
 
For the four years following the Athens Olympics, Tim worked in various capacities on the Teach For America staff in roles that have included supporting and mentoring new teachers and working in human resources. Tim has left Teach for America, but still maintains an interest in improving access to education for everyone.
 
Sponsorship
 
Tim is a rarity among the world's top fencing athletes in that he works and trains full time. Training to compete in the Olympic Games in any sport is dauntingly expensive. Tim is looking for sponsors to help support him in his drive for the 2009 World Championship team and the 2012 Olympics in London.