Piers Gilliver

Piers Gilliver MBE is a British wheelchair fencer who competes in epee and sabre. He continues to fence foil in team events.

He represented GBR at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, winning a silver medal in the Individual Men’s Epee. He also won silver in Team Foil, and bronze in Team Epee.

He then competed in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, winning the gold medal in the Individual Men’s Epee, becoming Britain’s first Paralympic wheelchair fencing gold medallist since 1988.

Piers competed in the Paris 2024 Paralympics, winning the silver medal in the Individual Men’s Sabre and in the Individual Men’s Epee.

Gilliver also competed alongside Dimitri Coutya and Oliver Lam-Watson for the Men’s Team Foil, taking home the silver medal.

The team also took home bronze for Men’s Team Epee.

Piers has achieved spectacular results throughout his fencing journey including winning medals at both Worlds and European Championships.

Piers was born in Gloucester. It was here that he first tried the sport of wheelchair fencing in 2010 at his local fencing club in Cheltenham and he joined the British Disabled Fencing Association in 2011.

Outside of fencing, he has an interest in military memorabilia and antiques.

Gilliver was recognised with an MBE in the 2022 New Year’s Honours after his success in Tokyo.

QUOTES

“Having a medal is a big deal and I never thought I’d get to this position in my life.”

“Like all kids, I liked swords”

“Fencing has given me so much and I’ve changed as a person too. It’s great for people who aren’t traditionally into sport.”