Cover: Valentina Vezzali. 20 Valentina Vezzali, the beautiful gem from Jesi. 48
5
Editorial.
6
Thomas Bach: The Olympic Games from the eyes of a fencer President.
10
Pierre de Coubertin: The Fastest, Highest, and Strongest of Olympic Visionaries.
14
This is how fencing was experienced in Tokyo 2020.
TouchéWorld Directory
26
Joyce Bolaños: A builder of fencing.
Latin Americans heading towards Paris 2024. 52
34
China continues to dominate wheelchair fencing.
Giorgio Scarso: a master of massification. 54
I´m… Amelio Castro.
38
I´m… Anna Bashta.
44
I´m… Ruperto Gascón.
63
Tourism: Paris 2024 Olympics: Experience the City of Lights to the Fullest!
68 SwordSport is growing and will be closer to fencing.
EDITOR IN CHIEF: Calú Pargas PRESS HEAD: Luis Morales EDITION AND TRANSLATION: María Trinidad Colmenares ARGENTINA CORRESPONDENT: Gisela Di Lello U.S. CORRESPONDENT: Rafael Western MARKETING DIRECTOR: Claudia Romero DIGITAL MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA: Bianna Indelicato Pardo, Sebastián Pargas ADVERTISING AND SUBSCRIPTIONS: Sami Doria Vertel GRAPHIC DESIGN: Javier Inojosa HEALTH AND NUTRITION: Lcda. Ivett Khawan DATA AND RESEARCH: Pedro Godoy
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Contact:
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It fills us with pride to reach 10 years at the head of a project that always seeks to innovate and show the world the protagonists of a sport as wonderful as fencing. Since our beginnings, we have worked tirelessly to be the voice and reflection of this discipline, highlighting the dedication, effort and passion of those who practice it.
Throughout this journey, we have been moved many times by the achievements and efforts of each athlete we have spoken with. But we are also interested in the human side of them, knowing what they think and who they are, beyond sports. These ten years have allowed us to learn inspiring and moving stories, which
transcend beyond the fencing courts and which today are part of our legacy.
That is why, for this edition of TouchéWorld magazine, we ventured to carry out a new image renewal and launched a new section called “I Am,” where we highlight those protagonists: athletes, coaches, leaders and all those people who actively contribute and build The history of world fencing every day. We want our readers to get to know the people who, with their daily efforts, make this sport great. And leave that testimony written for future generations of fencers and for the entire world.
Likewise, this is a special edition dedicated to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which are just around the corner and in which we expect many interesting news and stories. The Olympic Games always represent a pinnacle moment for fencing, and we are excited to share with you the highlights of this global event.
We are pleased to be able to show such important people in this edition, such as the greatest Olympic medalist in the history of fencing, Valentina Vezzali, and the president of the International Olympic Committee, Mr. Thomas Bach, among other figures from the Olympic world who fill us with pride. and that you will be able to discover throughout our magazine. Their stories and experiences are a testimony to the greatness and impact of fencing on the sporting and personal level.
We invite you to join us in this edition and immerse yourself in the pages of this publication, loaded with fencing and love for all of you. Each page has been created with the same passion and dedication that fencers put into each bout.
Thank you for being part of our community during these 10 years. Together, we will continue to celebrate excellence and the spirit of fencing.
Happy reading!
Magazine team
TouchéWorld
Calú Pargas Gabaldón
TouchéWorld Editorial founder.
| Thomas Bach
Thomas Bach is a man known worldwide. Much of the sports decisions depend on his work team and fencing is an important part of his life. He is the first president of the International Olympic Committee to win a gold medal, and in none other than in this sport.
He did this at the 1976 Montreal Games in the team foil specialty, and since then his name has not stopped being heard in all instances at a sporting level.
In his resume, the 70-year-old lawyer and political scientist claims to have been a representative of athletes before the International Olympic Committee, a member of the German National Olympic Committee, director of international relations at Adidas, and now at the head of the global sports entity.
He is not the only sports leader who has emerged from fencing. This sport has strong ties to the Olympic Movement, as it is worth remembering that it was one of the five original sports of the modern era in 1896 and Pierre de Coubertin himself, considered the father of the modern Olympic Games, was a fencer.
It can be said that Bach’s executive leadership throughout his career has been thanks to sports, in which he was able to bring sporting success to the managerial world.
Coming from the Bavaria colony, Thomas Bach has headed the International Olympic Committee since September 2013, and since then there has been a notable transformation of the highest body in world sport.
In recent years, the International Olympic Committee has sought to transform sport, under the premise of being more inclusive. Supported by the sustainable development strategies of the United Nations, they seek to promote objectives of recreation, health, peace, gender equality, climate action among others, which is why it is expected that the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will become renewed to break horizons and reach more people.
The main idea is that this event shows Olympic Games that are closer to society, where more integration is seen with the daily events of a city as multicultural as the French capital, but that can also influence world events, without forgetting the sustainability that is sought so much in these environments.
The slogan “Open Games” represents a challenge for the Organizing Committee; outdoor activities and activities in emblematic sites will set the tone. Just like the Grand Palais, the stage that will host Olympic fencing starting on July 27.
not escape the Olympic Committee and Thomas Bach himself in an interview with the international press pointed out that a holistic approach must be taken and a strategy must be created for the integration of this new technology and sport.
“In sport, athletes will always have to be the ones in charge of carrying out the tests. The 100 meters will always have to be run by an athlete, a human being. That is why we can focus on the potential of AI to support athletes.”
“AI can help identify athletes and talent in every corner of the world. AI can give more athletes access to personalized training methods, superior sports equipment, and more individualized programs to stay fit and healthy.”
He is the first president of the International Olympic Committee to win a gold medal, and in none other than in this sport.
Part of this inclusion will also be evident in the Paralympic Games, which were first held in 1960 and which in 2024 will be bigger than ever. With 549 events, 3.4 million tickets on sale and 300 hours of broadcast from the host country on France Television.
Artificial intelligence is also a topic that does
Bach said other advantages of AI included fairer judging, better protection and experience for spectators.
The German fencer’s term at the head of the International Olympic Committee will end in 2025 after a first term of eight years and a second of four years, however, several members have shown their intention to modify the current election rules so that Bach can continue in the presidency.
| Thomas Bach, Montreal 1976
PIERRE de COUBERTIN
The illustrious Parisian de Coubertin family had weathered the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, so their patriotic sentiments were at their peak, and they hoped that young Pierre, at the tender age of eight, would embark on a brilliant military career at the Saint Cyr Academy to serve his country.
Young Pierre Freddy, born in Paris on January 1, 1863, diligently fulfilled his duties at the military academy, but his greatest brilliance shone through in equestrianism and gymnastics. These early signs hinted at his true calling: sports.
“I don’t believe the military is my true calling,” declared the young man years after attempting
a military career. With the disapproval of his family and, more deeply, the disappointment of his father, Baron Charles Louis de Coubertin, he abandoned his military studies and enrolled in philosophy at the Sorbonne University.
At the age of 20 in 1883, he embarked on his first study trip to England, where he met the pedagogue, humanist, and historian Thomas Arnold, the headmaster of Rugby School.
“Thomas embodied the foundations of English culture and education. He considered sports a means of self-education for the youth,” Pierre de Coubertin would later recount. This perspective would become a key element of
his book “L’éducation en l’Angleterre” (1888), where he concluded that young Englishmen were healthier than the French because of their better habits and physical training. He asserted that sports should be incorporated into the educational system.
Initially, his proposal did not resonate with French society of the time. However, Pierre de Coubertin was an unwavering advocate for his ideas. He began by visiting local authorities, then climbed the ranks to higher officials, including national ones, insisting on the introduction of sports in schools, high schools, and universities.
devoted strictly to human achievement (...) I draw from those ruins a renewing spirit; and in spirit, I work to rebuild its columns and porticos, to revive its linear silhouette. If Germany had unearthed what remained of Olympia, why shouldn’t France dedicate itself to restoring its splendors? It is the most practical and fruitful project, to reinstate the Games, and it is not far now when sporting internationalism is called to play a role in the world.”
“Nothing in ancient history has given me more to dream about than Olympia, that dreamlike city devoted strictly to human achievement (...)
Simultaneously, he started creating athletic societies in schools, which later formed the Union des Sociétés Françaises de Sports Athlétiques. He founded the first sports magazine, the “Revue Athlétique,” and succeeded in convincing the French government to include it in the programs of the 1889 Universal Exhibition.
He also published a study on Thomas Arnold’s work, and the positive impact of his proposals led the Ministry of Education to sponsor his visit to the United States to continue his research on teaching methods. Sports began to stir enthusiasm and be practiced in schools and even in rural areas.
With the success of his ideas, Pierre did not rest; instead, he began to dream of an extraordinary competition involving athletes from all over the world, with the principles of unity and brotherhood, devoid of profit motives, solely driven by the desire for glory. The idea of the heir to the Baron de Coubertin title seemed rebellious and faced many challenges.
However, Pierre Freddy was not just a dreamer; he was an investigator, educator, and historian who substantiated his ideas with extensive reading and essays. He found the pinnacle of his inspiration in the stories of the ancient Greek Olympics, which would lead him to create his greatest work: the modern Olympic Games.
“Nothing in ancient history has given me more to dream about than Olympia, that dreamlike city
These were the words of Baron de Coubertin as he traveled the world advocating for peace, unity, and sports. His tireless efforts bore fruit in the final session of the International Congress of Physical Education held at the Sorbonne in Paris, with the participation of 49 sports societies and 69 delegates from various countries, on June 26, 1894. There, it was decided to institute the first Olympic Games in Athens, in homage to the nation of its origin.
In England and even in Greece, this idea was met with skepticism. Germany tried to boycott the Games, and the Greek Prime Minister Tricoupis argued that the event would be too costly for his country.
Coubertin managed to persuade the Crown Prince of Greece, the Duke of Sparta, to intercede with Kaiser Wilhelm, the German Emperor, and his brother-in-law, convincing the English, Germans, and Greeks. The Prince secured the issuance of commemorative stamps to raise money for the Games. He also initiated a public subscription campaign, which yielded such good results that George Averof, a Greek millionaire who had emigrated to Alexandria at a young age, donated 200,000 drachmas for the reconstruction of the Athens stadium.
On March 24, 1896, Easter Sunday, the Duke of Sparta, after delivering a speech, unveiled the statue of the patron Averof. King George of Greece uttered for the first time the ritual words: “I declare open the First International Olympic Games of Athens.” These words were accompanied by the Olympic motto proposed by the Baron: Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger), words that sealed Pierre de Coubertin’s triumph and immortality. Today, he continues to shine like a radiant torch in every Olympic Games.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games had 12 fencing events, in which great emotions could be experienced. The main protagonists were the now historic Áron Szilágyi and his third gold medal in these competitions individually. And there were also appearances such as Lee Kiefer, Cheung Ka Long and Katrina Lehis.
The local Epee team also stood out and established itself as the best in the entire world at that time.
The tests took place from July 24 to August 1, 2021, at the Makuhari Messe Hall. 212 fencers from 42 countries participated, competing in the epee, foil and saber disciplines, both individually and in teams, for men and women.
This occasion marked the first in the history of the Olympic Games that a complete set of 12 medal competitions between women and men in all arms was held.
It was a very diverse competition, so much so that 13 countries could win at least one medal.
Below are some of the countries featured in Tokyo 2020:
Russia (ROC): Won three gold medals and was the winner of the competition despite differences with the International Olympic Committee. They became winners in the individual and team women’s saber, thanks to an outstanding performance by Sofia Pozdniakova and also by Sofia Velikaya who took silver. While the team foil also took first place.
France: They took home two gold medals and in 2024 they will seek to repeat. They won gold with the men’s foil team and also Romain Cannone’s in the individual epee, which ended up being one of the surprises of the competition by beating the Hungarian Gergely Siklósi.
United States: Standing out in individual foil with Lee Kiefer winning gold and men’s team foil taking bronze. It also left us a beautiful love story since one of its members (Gerek Meinhardt) is Kieger’s husband.
Italy: It was one of the teams that promised the most, however they were unable to win gold medals (something that had not happened for 49 years), they accumulated three silver and two bronze medals.
Japan: For the first time they managed to win an Olympic gold medal in fencing, thanks to the men’s epee team.
Estonia: surprised by winning gold in the women’s team épée, thanks in part to Katrina Lehis, who also won another medal in the individual competition. It marked the first gold medal for this country in 13 years.
In total, 13 countries shared the fencing medals, demonstrating the wide competitiveness of the sport at a global level and the diversity of countries in which it is practiced.
Olympic Calendar
Valentina Vezzali, the beautiful gem from Jesi
Jesi is a very small town in the province of Ancona. Its streets have a medieval atmosphere and its fields are fertile for fruits, vegetables and cereals. Its fencing courts have also been sorts of “mines” from which world champions have emerged, the most radiant of all has been Valentina Vezzali. Her resume with the foil in her right hand shines brighter than the diamond. In the Olympic Games she has won six gold medals, three of them consecutive, in addition to one silver and two
bronzes. She was sixteen times world champion and thirteen times European champion, numbers that only a legend can achieve.
Vezzali put aside her multiple current occupations, in politics and sports, for a few minutes to chat with TouchéWorld. Every word, every anecdote, leads us to know a woman who was not satisfied with just talent to fight on a piste, at a very young age she understood that to be successful she had to have discipline and perseverance.
Where and at what age did you start fencing?
I started fencing in Jesi, my hometown, when I was six years old.
Who inspired you to fence?
It was my parents. My reference was Lauro, my father, but Enrica, my mother, was my motor and my strength.
Who do you consider to be the teachers who influenced you the most?
My two greatest teachers were Ezio Triccoli and Giulio Tomassini.
Born in 1915, Ezio Triccoli learned fencing during World War II in a prison camp in Zonderwater, South Africa. In 1947, upon returning to Jesi, he founded
Nickname: ValeOro (Golden Vale)
Place of birth: Jesi, Italia
Age: 50 years. | Date of birth: 14/02/1974.
Weight: 53 kg. | Height: 1,64 cm.
Weapon: Foil.
Club: Fiamme Oro – Polizia di Stato
(Llama Dorada - Italian Police)
the Jesi Fencing Group, which later became the Jesi Scherma Club, the most successful club in the second half of the 20th century in the history of world fencing.
He was brilliant, revolutionary, innovative like few others. He taught me the importance of working with commitment and sacrifice to achieve my goals.
Giulio Tomassini was my teacher for 26 years. He learned fencing in Jesi, from Maestro Triccoli.
After several years training in Lyon, he returned to Italy and supported Maestro Triccoli in his last years at the Scherma Jesi Club.
Technically and tactically he is one of the best fencing coaches in the world.
Do you have someone you consider an idol?
Giovanna Trillini was a role model for me, an example of dedication, selflessness and professionalism. Did you ever think about giving up fencing?
I was afraid I would have to retire after the 2006 World Cup, when I tore the anterior cruciate ligament in my left knee.
After the surgery, which took place the week after the World Championships, I was overcome by the fear of not being able to return to optimal physical condition to continue my sporting career.
I returned to competition four months after the operation, it was a liberation. I even won.
Of all the medals you have won, which one do you remember most?
The gold medal I got at the World Championships in Leipzig exactly 4 months after the birth of my firstborn Pietro.
On that occasion I felt energized by a new energy. It’s really true, when you become a mother, you become stronger. What defeat do you remember most? And how did you get back up after it?
The lost semi-final at the London 2012 Olympic Games. It was not easy to face the fight for bronze after having seen the possibility of winning a fourth consecutive Olympic gold disappear.
During almost the entire fight I was subdued by my Korean opponent. In the last seconds of the fight I entered a kind of competitive trance and managed a comeback that bordered on the impossible.
The bronze that I won is still worth gold to me today.
To rise from defeats it is necessary to find a great inner strength that allows each of us to express our talent.
Is there a special story you would like to share?
My first Italian championship in the Prime Blades category that I won in Rome in 1984.
After a day of competition, as soon as I made the final winning lunge, I remember that I didn’t have time to take off my mask before my father took me in his arms and spun me around in the air.
It was a very powerful emotion that I will always carry with me.
How attached are you to fencing right now?
Fencing has been and will always be an important part of my life.
Today I am the coordinator of the fencing sector of Fiamme Oro, the sports group of the Italian State Police.
What do you think fencing should do to improve in the years to come?
I believe it is fundamentally important that fencing is accessible to an increasingly broad and heterogeneous audience, with high-profile events that attract sponsors and investors. What are the new challenges and goals for Valentina?
After living in Jesi, in the Marche region, in September my children and I will move to the capital, Rome. A new beginning that will allow me to take a little more time for them and for myself.
What was it like to be on Celebrity Island?
The experience on the island was fantastic. I wasn’t a very skillful strategist, but along the way I made two very dear friends: Marina Suma and Matilde Brandi.
What advice would you give to new athletes?
Always believe in yourself and never give up.
Valentina Vezzali left an indelible mark on the history of fencing. This foil fencer will be remembered among the best in a sport that, in her little Jesi, is a kind of lifestyle that has allowed her to train athletes recognized throughout the world.
Latin American Athletes qualified for Paris 2024
Name: John Rodríguez
Birthplace: Buga, Colombia
Birthdate: January 24, 1991
Name: Gibran Zea
Birthplace: Puebla, Mexico
Birthdate: July 14, 1997
Age: 27 years old | Weapon: saber | FIE ranking: 79
Gibran Zea started fencing at the age of seven. He chose this discipline looking for something different from football, a favorite practice in his hometown. The Paris 2024 edition will be the first in his record and he achieved qualification by winning gold in the Pan American Qualifying Tournament in Costa Rica, after defeating Rafael Western of Puerto Rico 15-12.
Age: 33 years old | Weapon: Epee | FIE ranking: 30
John Rodríguez will return to the Olympic Games eight years after being 29th in the individual event in Rio 2016. His particular height of 2.06 meters made him an attractive player for basketball or volleyball, but he chose fencing. He was runner-up in the World Cup in 2022 and won gold in the 2023 Central American Games.
Name: Mariana Pistoia
Birthplace: Porto Alegre, Brazil
Birthdate: December 3, 1998
Age: 25 years old | Weapon: foil | FIE ranking: 65
Mariana Pistoia is a lawyer and Brazilian Army sergeant who earned her place in the Olympic Games after winning gold in the Pan American Qualifier in Costa Rica. In that tournament, she had to beat the Venezuelan Isis Giménez, in a close final with a score of 11-10.
Name: María Luisa Doig
Birthplace: Lima, Perú
Birthdate: August 13, 1991
Age: 32 years old | Weapon: foil | FIE ranking: 46
María Luisa Doig began practicing fencing from the age of five. She combined training with her Stomatology studies. Paris will be her third Olympic Games after participating, at the age of 17, in Beijing 2008 and then in Tokyo 2020. She earned her ticket by winning the Pan American Qualifying Tournament in Costa Rica by beating the Canadian Ruien Xiao 8-7.
Name: Katherine Paredes
Birthplace: Caracas, Venezuela
Birthdate: May 22, 1998
Edad: 26 years old | Weapon: saber | FIE ranking: 142
Katherine Paredes was one of the sweetest surprises for Venezuela at the Pan American Qualifying Championship in Costa Rica by earning her ticket, after beating Cuban Leidis Paredes 15-10. Paredes attended the event as the sixth pre-qualified and obtained a place.
Name: Arantza Inostroza
Birthplace: Santiago, Chile
Birthdate: April 7, 2000
Age: 24 years old | Weapon: foil | FIE ranking: 48
Arantza Inostroza has Olympic DNA in his blood. Her uncle, Paris Inostroza, participated in fencing at Atlanta 96, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012. The psychology student qualified via ranking, after participating in the Washington Grand Prix.
Name: Guilherme Toldo
Birthplace: Porto Alegre, Brazil
Birthdate: September 1, 1992
Name: Kruz Schembri
Birthplace: Davenport, United States
(Represents the Virgin Islands)
Birthdate: October 15, 2006
Age: 17 years old | Weapon: Epee | FIE ranking: 42
The young man is the first fencer from the Virgin Islands to qualify for the Olympic Games in the last 40 years. He trains athletics, in addition to fencing, and qualified for Paris after winning gold in foil at the Pan American Qualifying Championships in Costa Rica, where he defeated Mexican Diego Cervantes 15-13 in the final.
Age: 31 years old | Weapon: foil | FIE ranking: 27
Guilherme Toldo will have his fourth participation in the Olympic Games, after having fought in London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. In the Brazilian event, he reached the quarterfinals, the best result of his country’s fencing in the history of the universal event.
Name: Nathalie Moellhausen
Birthplace:Milan, Italy (competing for Brazil since 2014)
Birthdate: December 1, 1985
Age: 38 years old | Weapon: Epee | FIE ranking: 8
Nathalie Moellhausen has the particularity of having competed for her native Italy and for Brazil. Under the flag of the European country she was world champion in Turkey in 2009, in addition to bronze at the European Championship in 2011. She went to the London Olympics and finished seventh. As a Brazilian, she participated in Rio 2016, finishing sixth in the individual and ninth in the team, in addition to being eighteenth in the individual at Tokyo 2020.
Name: Rubén Limardo
Birthplace: Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela
Birthdate: August 3, 1985
Age: 38 years old | Weapon: Epee | FIE ranking: 19
Rubén Limardo is a legend of Latin American fencing, winner of the gold medal in London 2012. Paris will be his fifth Olympic event, after participating in Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020. He is part of the number one fencing team in America and sixth in the world.
Name: Grabiel Lugo
Birthplace: Valencia, Venezuela
Birthdate: September 19, 1996
Name: Francisco Limardo
Birthplace: Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela
Birthdate: March 27, 1987
Age: 37 years old | Weapon: Epee | FIE ranking: 25
Francisco Limardo will have his third participation in an Olympic Games, after his participation in Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016, in both of which he achieved a diploma by finishing sixth and eighth. The epeeist was part of the team that won bronze at the World Championships in Milan in 2003.
Age: 27 years old| Weapon: Epee | FIE ranking: 66
Grabiel Lugo graduated as a lieutenant and graduated in Military Sciences and Arts, but decided to dedicate completely to fencing, so he joined the Limardo brothers in their training in Poland. Paris will be his first experience in the Olympic Games.
Name: Pascual Di Tella
Birthplace: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Birthdate: September 16, 1995
Age: 29 years old | Weapon: saber | Ranking FIE: 47
Pascual María Di Tella is perhaps one of the most versatile fencers among all the participants in Paris 2024. The sabrist is also a musician, philosopher and political scientist, he is also the son of Rafael Di Tella, another Argentine fencer who participated in Seoul 88 and Barcelona 92, while his mother, Astrid, represented her country at the Winter Olympic Games in Calgary 88 and Albertville 92.
1
Name Italy F 1996–2012 Country Weapon Years
6 1 2
Total: 9
4 1 3
Giovanna Trillini Name Italy F 1992–2008 Country Weapon Years Total: 8
2
Gorojova
3
Name URSS F 1968–1980 Country Weapon Years
4 1 1
Total: 6
3 1 1
F 1960–1972 Country Weapon Years Total: 5
4
Valentina Vezzali
Yelena Belova
Galina
MEDALISTS
Name
Ildikó Újlaky-Rejtő
Name
Laura Flessel-Colovic
Name
Alexandra Zabelina
URSS F 1960–1972 Country Weapon Years
3 0 0 5
Total: 3
Hungary F 1960–1976 Country Weapon Years Total: 7 2 3 2
Inna Deriglazova
Name Russia F 2012–2020 Country Weapon Years Total: 4 2 2 0 7
France E 1996–2004 Country Weapon Years Total: 5 2 1 2 8
Zita-Eva Funkenhauser
Name RFA / Germany F 1984–1992 Country Weapon Years Total: 4
2 1 1 9
Name
Anja Fichtel-Mauritz
RFA/ Germany F 1988–1996 Country Weapon Years Total: 4 2 1 1 10
2 1 0
Ilona Elek Name Hungary F 1936–1952 Country Weapon Years Total: 3
Name
Elisa Di Francisca
Italy F 2012–2016 Country Weapon Years
2 1 0 12
Total: 3
Name Italy F 1988–1996 Country Weapon Years Total: 3
Francesca Bortolozzi
Pascale Trinquet-Hachin Name France F 1980–1984 Country Weapon Years
2 1 0 13
Name
Mariel Zagunis
United States of America S 2004–2016 Country Weapon Years
Total: 4 2 0 2
3 2 0 1
Name
Pascale Trinquet-Hachin
France F 1980–1984 Country Weapon Years
2 0 1 16
Total: 3
a master of massification
No matter the position that Master Giorgio Scarso holds, he will always be a worker who seeks the development of fencing in any corner where there is a child who wants to practice it. From his position as president of the European Fencing Confederation, he knows that the growth of the discipline comes from the base.
He discovered fencing when he was 19, at the Military Academy in his native Italy. That love at first sight led him, not only to specialize, but to travel around the world carrying the message of what fencing conveys: values.
“While at the Military School I learned about fencing at the age of 19, I loved it. At that moment I set the goal of getting to know her better, so, some time later, a fencing instructor course came out and I did it,” Scarso commented in an exclusive interview.
Master Scarso comes from a refined fencing school, which constantly advances and develops. Europe remains the epicenter of the best fencers in the world, an achievement that has been possible by working tirelessly to bring the discipline to any corner, but he wants to go further.
“We want to take the model to everyone, so that in each neighborhood there is a room or a gym. Fencing should be seen with a social function. We work to ensure that there is investment from governments or that clubs are founded as has happened in Europe, which has made it possible to train athletes in small cities.”
And he learned that formula while working from home. Scarso traveled through El Salvador, Costa Rica and many other countries in South America promoting the practice of fencing. His resume includes the presidency of the Italian Federation of the specialty for 16 years,
he was also vice president of the International Fencing Federation and now, he has headed the European Confederation, since 2002.
Scarso held the title of military instructor in fencing in 1973, while a year later he received the title of Master of Fencing at the Military Academy of Naples.
Investing in fencing, a social view
Fencing can be seen as a discipline reserved for a wealthy elite, but that is not necessarily the reality. The circumstances of each region directly affect the practice of sport and the support given to athletes.
“In the United States, all expenses for athlete training are borne by the family; it is a luxury
allow athletes to train and, in some cases, the family also pays, but at a lower cost. In Latin America the boys approach fencing and the government takes charge, the massification is different.”
But, for Scarso, the mission is the same: “the investment in fencing should not be seen only for the simple fact of winning medals, but as a social investment.”
How is fencing promoted in Europe?
Master Giorgio Scarso knows very well how fencing should be massified. From his position in the European Confederation, he has been advancing plans that have allowed not only the massification of sport, but also the economy that surrounds it.
“the investment in fencing should not be seen only for the simple fact of winning medals, but as a social investment.”
that only a few can afford. Many families push their children to practice fencing as a way to seek a college scholarship.”
Looking at other regions, the panorama is different. In Europe there are sporting organizations that
“Fencing cannot be a sport that is only seen in the Olympic Games but in social promotion. We hold three-day championships in Italy, in which more than 400 athletes compete and almost 1,500 people attend. We have spoken with the mayors of the towns so that they can equip us with facilities and we go with all that number of people who pay for hotels and buy in restaurants. “It is a way to boost the economy.”
I'm...
April 28 had become a nightmare for Anna Bashta, the fencer of Russian descent who competes under the flag of Azerbaijan saw how a leg injury kept her from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. However, her efforts were rewarded at the end of May when she received a Universal place awarded by the International Fencing Federation. Anna is the current number 33 in the world in epee ranking, but she closed the 2022-2023 season as number one. She has two medals in the World Cup, first place in the European Championship and
first place in the Grand Prix, so she is undoubtedly one of the strongest athletes on the entire circuit and will be in Paris 2024 looking for her medal.
Name: Anna Bashta. Country she represents: Azerbaijan
Age: 27 years old. | Birthdate: July 10, 1996
Weight: 68 kg. | Height : 1,72 m.
Weapon: Sabre. Handedness: Left handed.
At what age and who inspired or motivated you to start fencing?
Sports came into my life when I was four years old. I did gymnastics, and I decided to quit because it was too far away from home. Then, my parents asked me what I wanted to do and I had no idea, I just wanted to go out. They asked me if I wanted to do fencing, since it was practiced at my school. I said yes, but I had no idea what it was about. When I first saw the weapon I was very surprised and said “oh, what is this?” I immediately made new friends. I stayed in fencing because of my friends.
Tell us about the change of the country you were born to the country that you represent now?
Until 2019 I represented the Russian National team, but five years ago the Azerbaijan team invited me to join. It was very interesting for me. A new country, a new mentality, so we immediately created a new team and it is now one of the best teams in the world. For me, it is the best in the world (laughs). We are getting good places in competitions, in world cups, and this is my new family now.
What food and training routine do you follow when you are preparing for competitions?
There is no weight class in my sport. My coach always tells us “you have to be fit, you have to be healthy.” We don’t have time to eat junk food since we have the same schedule every day: wake up, first practice, lunch, nap, second practice, dinner, and go back to bed every day. Sometimes we can eat something that is not good, but it is not usual.
How did you deal with your recent injury?
My injury occurred a couple of months ago during a very important tournament for me, it was horrible. I still can’t accept that I had such an injury, I felt terrible, it was so painful. I had to visit a lot of doctors and do a lot of rehab. Now everything is fine, I’m ready for Paris.
What hobbies do you have apart from fencing?
I like to surf and try other sports, but I can’t practice regularly. Fencing is my life, it is my passion. When I’m on vacation I talk about fencing, and I can even practice a little on the beach. Between training sessions I like to watch series, I am an expert, I have seen countless series.
Who is the opponent that you consider is the most difficult or makes it difficult for you on the strip?
Myself, I think all athletes say the same thing. But something very interesting in fencing are the top 16 best athletes in the world, because they are very strong athletes. Two years ago I placed first on this list. Now I’m down, due to my injury, also due to some mental health problems. But, after the Olympic Games I will surely be back in the top.
What advice would you give to new fencers?
Don’t think about winning or losing. Focus only on the fencing and the actions, not on the results.
How do you recover from defeat?
I go to the gym immediately, since after each competition I carry my mistakes in a big suitcase, and I must correct them, because in my next competition what happened before must be forgotten. I have no time to think about the past, I always think forward. I never cry after competitions if I lose. I’ve only done it after my injury or after some bad moments.
Could you tell us any difficult moment that you have had to experience as a fencer?
The last one I can remember was my injury that happened to me during Olympic qualifying in Luxembourg. It was a terrible competition for me. I started off great, but something happened. God said: “No Anna, it is not your time”, I remember the feeling was terrible, I cried a lot. But now everything is better, I’m healthy.
The second worst moment was a few months after the European Championship. I suffered from depression after this. My concentration was not on the competition, or on fencing as such, I focused only on how to win, because everyone told me “you are strong, you are number one”, that for me was not good. I worked really hard for a few months so I hope I can get back to those places soon.
What can we expect from Anna Bashta at the Olympic Games Paris 2024?
It is a very important competition for any athlete, and they all want to win gold. I want to win a medal. I want to show all I can give and enjoy the moment because it is a wonderful competition.
What goals do you have for the future?
I want to continue fencing until the next Olympics in Los Angeles, or maybe even Melbourne, because I am quite young and fencing is my life and my passion. I can’t think of anything else in my life, or any hobby. All I think about is fencing and I can’t stop. After my career, I want to remain close to fencing.
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Ruperto Gascón is also a gold medal winner at the Olympic Games. The Venezuelan coach has more than 20 years of experience teaching fencing at an international level, and has made countless sacrifices to get where he is today.
“Chicho” as he is known in the world of fencing, emigrated many years ago and it has not been an easy task, since only he knows everything he has done to be the national fencing coach of Turkey to this day, as well as coach of that country’s modern pentathlon team.
And he told us part of his story, about those times when he had to rush from work and travel with young applicants through part of Europe on the road, in his vehicle, to get to the competitions with the greatest possible savings of money, and once the competition was over they returned to their base in Poland.
“The risk on those highways, now I think about it,” said an excited Ruperto Gascón.
But several years later, he knew that those sacrifices would pay off, since he would be the coach of a gold medalist.
“Chicho” knew that Rubén Limardo was going to win the gold medal in London 2012. The uncle and coach helped the Venezuelan consolidate himself as the best epee fencer on that occasion.
Currently, Gascón is residing in Ankara, in the middle of a country that strongly believes in its religion and is affected by some bureaucratic issues, just as happens in Latin America. He arrived for a trial period of around three months and has already been leading the Turkish epee team for a year and has noticed the improvement.
Although Turkey is not a country known for its fencing, Gascón on this occasion supported the qualification of two of its pentathlon athletes for the Olympic Games.
“When you get the classification you already have planned what you are going to do, to give you an example, we have a camp, we go to the height until
July 27 and from there to Paris,” said Ruperto. In the same way. He said that these camps depend on the budget, but they seek to invite athletes from various countries to compete, since the athlete base from small countries is very short and they need others.
This part of the planning is thanks to experience, because “In Rio (2016), when we qualified we did not have anyone to train with, the countries that did not qualify were already on vacation and so the countries that qualified were not going to train” , so Gascón dedicated himself to creating links between friendly federations and now the job is much simpler.
On that occasion the coach was able to resolve the training session with athletes from the United States, but he believes that it was not the best preparation.
Another important part that Ruperto Gascón emphasizes is time, “in Beijing 2008 I did my planning to qualify and not to win, then I realized and started to correct the details and that is why we had that outcome in London 2012.”
“The work I did for London was very strategic work, I created a system, an assault system for the competition, to prepare the competition that to date no one knows. Some have tried to copy, but they have copied little things, not the whole thing as such. And then thinking that they were
going to see that, I started to change things for Rio 2016.”
Ruperto recognizes that at that time it was a mistake to make so many changes: “I realized that we were beaten in Rio.”
But Gascón can never stay still and modified his system again for Tokyo 2020, although with a bit complicated planning in the midst of the pandemic. “We didn’t do well in the Olympic Games, we lost in Tokyo, but we won the next competition, and it was the World Cup in Bern, that means we had done things well, but we didn’t have the time.
Ruperto Gascón confesses that he “likes to work for several periods” and not just a cycle.
Although he is jealous of his working method, he told us that it is a system made up of 38 actions, both defensive and offensive, “with counter attacks or whatever you want to call it, and then it was like a game, as, with those 38 actions that he was going to manage in the assault”.
Similarly, Chicho says that the system was not for the final point, but to precede that final point, how many things we can do to get to that point.
“That was where the deception came, that was where the tactical part was, just tactics and, well, we won the gold.”
Ruperto “Chicho” Gascón continues to provide fencing with his knowledge and strategic thinking, although he has had juicy offers from other countries, he believes that he will always be there to support Venezuelan and Latin athletes.
Joyce Bolaños: A builder of fencing
People who work in silence often obtain unimaginable rewards, and that is the case of Joyce Bolaños, a fencing enthusiast who, after 40 years, sees a dream she had from a very young age materialize.
That youth made her travel part of America, thanks to her father’s work with the oil companies, she had to leave behind her childhood in Peru to make the Virgin Islands her home, then she went to Puerto Rico, where she learned about fencing and now she resides in The United States of America without leaving sport aside.
“My mother was a fencer in Peru, and my father was an accountant in a refinery that extracted oil from Venezuela. Our first destination was Santa Cruz, Virgin Islands, then we moved to Puerto Rico and fencing began for me there thanks to a friend of my mother who was part of the Puerto Rican national team,” she said.
Joyce arrived in the Virgin Islands at the age of 21, and recognized that this sport was “love at first sight”, since then she has not stopped working for the discipline.
From the Federation of Virgin Islands she has done a dedicated job from the 90s until recently, when her son Andy was in charge of the small but fierce federation.
From street training with what she had on hand, to organizing international events attended by thousands of people.
And now that she sees her journey, she recognizes that: “Latin American fencing is being recognized worldwide, our athletes are there on the podium, in Europe and around the world and that fills me with satisfaction.”
Bolaños says that the starting point for what is being experienced now was: “When we organized the 2017 Pan American veterans and youth tournament, that was a great achievement in itself for such a small island. It takes a lot of money to do a Pan American event and the good thing is that we know a lot of people, we went to many places and through my son we got support from the tourism department,
as well as the Olympic Committee,” recalled an excited Joyce.
She did not leave aside the support of the Pan American Fencing Congress, in addition to several people linked to the Puerto Rican federation and several referees, everything came together in favor of Caribbean and Latin American fencing in an event in which more than 400 athletes registered, plus their families.
me 40 years to accept an invitation to the Olympic Games.”
Therefore, she feels proud of everything that Kruz has achieved at the age of 17: “He is our ambassador. When he won the silver medal in
“He is our ambassador. When he won the silver medal in Hungary, the Europeans started looking for the fencing program in the Virgin Islands”
“Some of the children in those photos are now the owners of the hotels; they say that fencing changed their lives,” but at that event there was a name that is now recognized worldwide.̋
The appearance of Kruz Schembri
That’s how I met Kruz Schembri, the name caught my attention, as well as his curls. I approached him and he told me that his mother gave him his name after the island of Santa Cruz, where she is originally from. So, I talked to the mother and asked her why the boy was representing the United States fencing, if he could represent the Virgin Islands. From there the conversations between Kruz’s mother and our Federation begun, he was 10 years old.”
Four years later, Joyce received an email confirming Kruz was ready to represent the Virgin Islands. And so began his career. “From the Olympic Committee of the Virgin Islands we sought support, also through the FIE. He began to win medals and for the first time in Dubai 2020 we had a foil team thanks to other kids from the universities contacting him and joining.” ...
Bolaños also highlights the support Kruz has had from his family and Venezuelan coach Rafael Suárez, “so far everything has been perfect.”
Qualification for the Olympic Games
The time came for the qualifiers for the Olympic Games in Costa Rica, and as advisors to the athlete, the team did not want a lot of wear and tear, so they chose to compete in only one weapon, the one that was best for that moment. “We put another person in epee and it worked for us and now he is going to the Olympic Games.”
Days later, the formal classification for the Olympic Games arrived in the institutional email and Joyce herself had to give the approval. “It took
Hungary, the Europeans started looking for the fencing program in the Virgin Islands,” she said mischievously because there are no complete programs.
However, Joyce acknowledges that now there is support from the FIE and a camp is being held for 40 children, “there is talent, the classes were full when I started with nothing, on the street, without any help.”
Joyce is currently more committed, contributing as part of the Promotion, Communication and Marketing Committee of the International Fencing Federation.
She has built an excellent career, a career that ranged from companies such as Nabisco to Louis Vuitton, but without leaving aside her dedication to fencing; in which she wishes to participate now in her veteran stage.
| Kruz Schembri
dominate wheelchair fencing China continues to
TOKYO
Tokyo 2020 was an example of the Chinese Paralympic fencing, in which they achieved a total of 11 gold medals out of 16 in dispute, in addition to four silver and five bronze, for a grand total of 20 medals out of 48 for which were competing in these five days of action in the capital of Japan.
This result meant the highest number of medals obtained in a sport for a Paralympic delegation. Although, very close to the 17 obtained in Rio 2016 by China itself in wheelchair fencing.
For this occasion, women’s saber was included for the first time in the program, and it was also dominated by China, in both the A final and the B final, Jing Bian and Shumei Tan won gold respectively.
At the same time, in the events held at the Makuhari Messe convention center, the delegations of the Russian Paralympic Committee and Great Britain stood out, occupying the next two places in the medal table.
The other great story that this Paralympic event left us was the gold medal won by the Italian Beatrice Vio, who won first place in the women’s foil B final against the Chinese Jingjing Zhou as in Rio 2016 and the result was the same.
It is worth mentioning that “Bebé” Vio had been hospitalized just two months before the competition, so there were doubts about her physical condition.
The Paralympic fencing celebration closed with a total of 12 countries on the medal table and a feeling that the sport will continue to grow.
Medal Table
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Amelio Castro was a lonely young man who was part of the army in Cali, Colombia. He lost his mother at a young age, but the real change in his life came at the age of 25 when he suffered an accident that left him without mobility in his legs, and Wheelchair fencing became the driving force to move forward.
With the desire to inspire other people, Amelio tried several sports such as basketball, but fencing came naturally to him, and he has achieved important milestones. In a short time he will become the first athlete of this discipline to
participate in the Paralympic Games with the flag of the refugee team when he competes in the epee B event.
Always in the hand of God, with passion, persistence and perseverance are the words with which Amelio defines his daily life from Italy, the country from where he gave us this interview and is living under the status of refugee. He trains with Daniele Pantoni at the Fiamme Oro Atlética club, known as the police team, where several Olympic champions have emerged, among the latest the Italian Gianmarco Tamberi in high jump at Tokyo 2020.
How did you find out about fencing?
It was by chance, and I really liked it from the first day. I started following Fernando Aguirre, a well-known person in the world of disabilities in Colombia. I was struck by the fact that everything was very elegant, very white, very polished, and right there I got in contact with him, he gave me the coach’s number and told me to go to Cali to try. There I met the sport and wonderful people like Linda Klimavicius Palma, as well as my coaches Marino Vidal and César Arias. That’s how I got hooked on this sport and it was like an answer from God.
How were those first wins?
Thank God my first national competition, which was in Bogotá, I managed to win a silver medal, and when I lost I didn’t worry so much, but I think I could win and I confirmed it when my opponent told me that since I arrived he worried and everyone was worried.
The next competition I won two gold medals and from then on I always stayed in gold. To the point where I managed to win the three gold medals in the National and Paranational Games in saber, foil and epee, in the Departmental Games I also managed to win the three medals so I felt that God was responding to me.
We as human beings have something, and it is that many times when we begin to have that recognition of the world we often disconnect from the spiritual and I think that was one of my biggest conflicts because the world makes you feel that. I thought that I had everything the world wanted but deep inside I knew that I was not fulfilling God with the objective of inspiring others and that I had not gotten there to achieve money and recognition.
Amelio also sees himself as an Olympic Champion: “I don’t know how long it will take, but I will win the medal.”
How was that arrival in Italy?
I had previously met Professor Daniele and we became good friends, he always told me to come, but I was scared. “I came to represent Colombia in a World Cup competition in Pisa, but in the end I couldn’t do it.
In addition to other problems, there was no institutional support to register for the competitions, so I decided to apply for political asylum in Italy because I was in that country and it was easier.
After that I joined the club thanks to Professor Daniele Pantoni again, because he practically adopted me like a son and despite his responsibility with the national team he always looked after me.
Also to the Fiamme Oro club, the police, who have welcomed me very well from day one. I have felt that family support in them, because it is not only support as an athlete.
What was the process to be an athlete on the refugee team?
I have never stopped training, but I did not have the possibility of using the nationality of my country or having Italian nationality. So it was there that I was given that wonderful opportunity to participate for the refugee team. I also thank Marta de Agosto and María Nata who supported me to do my best give our best and if it is possible, who knows?, win the gold medal.
How has fencing transformed you?
Even though I consider myself a lonely person, I always explain that I am a loner by choice, but in fencing I
have found that medicine, those friendships that take me a little bit out of that loneliness.
Fencing is a mental sport and they even call it the chess of the body, it allows me to work hard on myself to be able to connect. Fencing has been my school, it has been my family, motivation, my anchor to earth. I prayed a lot to find a place or a sport that I could do and that was God’s answer. What can be done to keep wheelchair fencing growing?
In terms of economics, it is very expensive and also, if conventional fencing is already expensive in a wheelchair, it increases. But many countries in
South America, countries where little was being spread, are now beginning to create this project, so it is something that shows that the work is being done.
Little by little it will grow and those supports will be found enabling children to connect with this wonderful sport that once they arrive, I know it will be difficult for them to disengage.
Tell us how you came to meet the Pope?
I don’t know how the contact came about, another coincidence of God, Professor Daniele is from Rome and a lady heard my story a they contacted me, they wanted to meet me as a refugee athlete. I was invited to tell my story and since then they are
part of the team that has followed and supported my process. part of the team that is supporting me to achieve that process. I am very grateful to Atlética Vaticana.
What has been the secret?
Eduardo Jordan told me that I am very lucky to have met a person as passionate about fencing as Professor Daniele. And then what I tell him is that when you are truly passionate, you find that chain of passion and each person contributes what they can, and that team is built. Today it is not just Amelio the crazy guy who came to Italy wanting to win a medal, now it is a team behind Amelio working towards winning that medal.
1
Name
Aladár Gerevich
Hungary S
Years
1932–1960 Country Weapon
7 1 2
Total: 10
Name
Edoardo Mangiarotti
Italy F, E
1936–1960 Country Weapon Years
6 5 2
Total: 13
2
16 Male Medalists
Name
Rudolf Kárpáti
3
Name
Pál Kovács
Hungary S 1932–1960 Country Weapon Years
6 0 1
Total: 7
Years
Hungary S 1948–1960 Country Weapon
6 0 0
Total: 6
4
5
Name
Italy
F, E, S
Years
1912–1920 Country Weapon
6 0 0
Total: 6
Lucien Gaudin
Name France F, E 1920–1928 Country Weapon Years Total: 6 4 2 0 6
Name
Giuseppe Delfino
Italy E 1952–1964 Country Weapon
Name
Christian
France F 1948–1956 Country Weapon Years
4 2 0 7
Total: 6
Years Total: 6 4 2 0
8
Nedo Nadi
d’Oriola
16 Male Medalists
Viktor Sidiak
4 1 1
Name URSS S 1968–1980 Country Weapon Years Total: 6
9
10
Name
Ramón Fonst
Cuba F, E
4 1 0
1900–1904 Country Weapon Years Total: 5
Name
Oreste Puliti
Italy F, S
1920–1928 Country Weapon Years
12
Total: 5
4 1 0 11
Name
Győző Kulcsár
Hungary E
Years
1964–1976 Country Weapon
4 0 2
Total: 6
Stanislav Pozdniakov
4 0 1
Name Rusia S 1992–2004 Country Weapon Years Total: 5
13
Name
Jenő Fuchs
4 0 0 14
Hungary S 1908–1912 Country Weapon Years Total: 4
Carlo Pavesi Name Italy E 1952–1960 Country Weapon Years
16
4 4 0 0 15
Name
Viktor Krovopuskov
URSS S 1976–1980 Country Weapon Years
4 0 0
Total: 4
The year 2024 promises to be a golden year for the world of sports. From July 26th to August 11th, the globe’s finest athletes, including 212 fencers, will converge in the spectacular city of Paris, France. They are poised to compete with unwavering commitment and dedication, driven by the dream of achieving Olympic glory – to become champions in their respective disciplines and etch their names in the illustrious history of the Olympic Games.
In preparation for this momentous event and to help you savor the splendor of the City of Lights, we embark on a captivating journey through iconic landmarks and the everyday life of Parisians. Our aim is to ensure that when the big moment arrives, you can make the most of every second in one of the world’s most romantic and charismatic cities, during the most significant sporting event in history.
According to the organizers of the Games, 35 sites in the heart of Paris, the Île de France region, and numerous other locations across the country will host various competitions. Many iconic symbols are being transformed into sporting arenas, setting the stage for different competitions.
The Grand Palais: Home to Fencing and Taekwondo
Built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition and recently renovated in 2023, the Grand Palais is a museum exuding beauty and elegance. It has also been a host to significant events, including the 2010 Fencing World Championships. Nestled between the Champs-Élysées and Place de la Concorde, this impressive structure is a harmonious blend of steel, iron, stone, and copper, where art and science, two essential pillars of European culture, coexist gracefully.
Place de la Concorde Transforms into an Urban Park
In the heart of Paris, the famous Place de la Concorde features a magnificent obelisk, over 3000 years old, hailing from Luxor and generously donated by the Viceroy of Egypt. The square is adorned with two fountains depicting humans and marine creatures. The obelisk’s strategic location offers breathtaking views of the Tuileries Gardens, with the Louvre Museum in the background, the Champs-Élysées, and the Arc de Triomphe.
For 15 days, this historic Parisian site will undergo a transformation into an urban park. It will host spectacular presentations of modern sports, including BMX Freestyle, skateboarding, 3x3 Basketball, and, for the first time, breaking.
The
Alexander III Bridge
Inaugurated during the 1900 Universal Exhibition and a symbol of Art Nouveau, the Alexander III Bridge connects other sporting venues that will take center stage during the 2024 Olympic Games. Here, nymphs, cherubs, mythical objects, Renaissance lanterns, and winged horses will witness the conclusion of various events, including cycling time trials, triathlon, para triathlon, and the marathon swim.
The Esplanade des Invalides
The Esplanade des Invalides is the garden of one of Paris’s most beautiful monuments, the Hôtel des Invalides, housing a military museum and Napoleon Bonaparte’s tomb, a place where locals and tourists can enjoy sports, music, and art. During the magnificent gathering in 2024, 1
archers in archery and para archery will gracefully traverse the French skies here, sharing the stage with athletics and road cycling events.
Champ de Mars Arena
Champ de Mars is a public garden nestled between the Eiffel Tower and the Military School in Paris, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Arena, a temporary structure erected in 2021, will host cultural events while the Grand Palais is undergoing renovation and will remain in place for several months after accommodating judo, para judo, wrestling, and wheelchair rugby competitions.
Paris Expo South
Arena Paris Expo is the largest exhibition complex in Europe, and pavilions 1, 4, and 6 will open their doors to visitors and weightlifting, handball, volleyball, table tennis, para table tennis, boccia, and goalball athletes. The latter two are paralympic sports. Boccia is played by individuals in wheelchairs who have cerebral palsy, brain injuries, or severe physical disabilities, and they are classified based on their abilities. The aim of the sport is to throw balls and hit a white ball or get as close as possible, attempting to outscore opponents. On the other hand, goalball was created for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The objective of the game is to score by getting the ball into the opponent’s net using only their hands. Athletes wear blindfolds to eliminate any advantage related to residual vision, ensuring fairness for players with varying degrees of visual impairment.
Paris’s meticulous preparations for this historic event are commendable and promise an unforgettable experience for the global sports community, fans, and fortunate spectators who will have the opportunity to attend the most significant and representative event of all time – the Olympic Games, while also enjoying one of the world’s greatest cities.
1 | The Grand Palais
2| The Esplanade des Invalides
3| The Alexander III Bridge
4| Place de la Concorde
SwordSport is growing and will be closer to fencing
Since it was created, the SwordSport platform has aimed to become the leading global platform for fencing enthusiasts.
And this is why they seek to provide comprehensive coverage and encourage community participation. Their goal is to share content such as virtual reality experiences and live broadcasts, thanks to partnerships with international federations to obtain exclusive information, supported by technology, and in this way have tools enabling users to obtain functions such as real-time analysis and personalized training recommendations.
Likewise, they seek to be the reference educational resource thanks to tutorials, master classes and certifications, which can help increase the community, in addition to social functions, content and forums.
Swordsport also seeks to support initiatives, promote sustainability and advocate for inclusivity, while inspiring excellence and increasing the fencing community globally.
Donald K. Anthony, Swordsport team leader, answered some questions regarding the platform:
What is Swordsport?
SwordSport is the ultimate destination for fencing enthusiasts, designed to unite and energize the community around the sport. Our premium video hub offers exclusive tournament coverage and dynamic community forums, where fencers, coaches and fans can connect and engage. With SwordSport, being a fencing fan has never been easier or more exciting.
What will the platform offer us at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games?
SwordSport aims to bring you unparalleled access to daily previews and recaps during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, featuring insights from none other than FIE Executive and Ohio State Fencing Head Coach Donald Anthony from Paris.
What is the subscription system like?
SwordSport is thrilled to offer new users a 14-day free trial when you sign up for a monthly or annual subscription at (https://www.swordsport.com).
Just click on the “sign up” button in the top right-hand corner of the screen to get started. You’ll gain access to exclusive content, stay upto-date with daily previews and recaps of the events, and engage in our vibrant community forum where you can connect with fencers, coaches, and other enthusiasts.
What impact do you want to have on the fencing community?
SwordSport aims to revolutionize the fencing community by providing unprecedented access to high-quality content and fostering a vibrant, connected network of enthusiasts. The platform expects to:
Enhance Engagement: By offering exclusive tournament coverage, daily previews, and recaps, SwordSport will keep the community informed and excited about the latest happenings in fencing.
Build Community: The interactive forums will provide a space for fencers, coaches, and fans to connect, share insights, and support one another, strengthening the sense of camaraderie within the sport.
Increase Visibility: Featuring expert analysis and interviews with renowned athletes and coaches, SwordSport will shine a spotlight on fencing, attracting new fans and participants.
Educate and Inspire: With technique breakdowns, strategy insights, and expert-curated content, SwordSport will serve as an educational resource, helping both beginners and experienced fencers to improve their skills and knowledge.
Promote Excellence: By highlighting the achievements of fencers and offering detailed match analytics, the platform will inspire athletes to strive for excellence and provide them with the tools to reach their full potential.
Overall, SwordSport expects to create a more connected, informed, and enthusiastic fencing community, driving the sport’s growth and success on a global scale.
