Introduction to Fencing for Beginners
Fencing has been part of the Olympic program since the reintroduction of the games in 1896 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin. Women’s events were introduced in 1924. The three fencing weapons, Foil, Épée, and Sabre, are part of the Olympic program. Each weapon has its own set of rules:
- In épée, hits are valid with the tip of the weapon on the entire body.
- In foil, hits are valid with the tip of the weapon only on the torso.
- In sabre, hits can be made with the entire length of the blade on the upper body, including the head!
Medals are awarded individually and by teams, for both women and men, making a total of 12 events. Traditionally dominated by European countries (Germany, France, Hungary, Italy, Russia, etc.) until the end of the 20th century, the podiums for the three weapons are now also occupied by countries from all other continents. Note: The official language of fencing is French. So don’t be surprised by the referees’ calls of “en garde!” or “allez!” during the bouts.
Schedule for July 27
Start: 10:00 AM End: 4:40 PM Grand Palais
- Individual épée – women, round of 64
- Individual sabre – men, round of 64
- Individual épée – women, round of 32
- Individual sabre – men, round of 32
- Individual épée – women, round of 16
- Individual sabre – men, round of 16
- Individual épée – women, quarter-finals
- Individual sabre – men, quarter-finals
Start: 7:00 PM End: 10:50 PM Grand Palais
- Individual épée – women, semi-finals
- Individual sabre – men, semi-finals
- Individual épée – women, bronze match
- Individual sabre – men, bronze match
- Individual épée – women, gold match
- Individual sabre – men, gold match
There will be a total of 3 medals awarded in sabre and 3 medals in épée by the end of the day! Upcoming schedule:
- July 28 – Individual foil and épée
- July 29 – Individual sabre and foil
- July 30 – Women’s épée team
- July 31 – Men’s sabre team
- August 1 – Women’s foil team
- August 2 – Men’s épée team
- August 3 – Women’s sabre team
- August 4 – Men’s foil team
A Bit of History on Fencing
Fencing, with a rich history dating back millennia to the first sword fights, has evolved over time to become a global sport. Initially designed as military training, it was transformed into a sport through the influence of European fencing masters. Today, with 157 national federations that are members of the International Fencing Federation, fencing is practiced and competed worldwide, in Europe, Asia, Oceania, the Americas, and Africa.
The Olympic history of this sport is marked by iconic figures such as the Italian Nedo Nadi, the only fencer to have won a medal with each of the three weapons in a single edition of the Games, thus setting an unparalleled historical record.
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