Career
Safin took up fencing when he was nine years old after a coach came to make a presentation at his school. He specialized in foil, the weapon of choice in Ufa. He quickly demonstrated talent, joining the junior Russian team in 2009.
He earned an individual bronze medal and a team silver medal in the 2011 U23 European Championships in Kazan.
He finished the 2011-2012 season no.4 in junior world rankings. In the senior category, he made his breakthrough in the 2014-2014 season.
He lost by a single hit to world no.1 Ma Jianfei of China and came away with a bronze medal. Foreign this performance he was named breakthrough of the year by the Russian Fencing Federation.