TouchéWorld
Issue N° 1 / 2023 - December
Magazine VETERANS
JULIE SEAL
Thank you for your tireless commitment to highlighting and giving visibility to fencing worldwide. Your work has taken this art to new heights, inspiring athletes and fans alike. Dedication is the engine that drives this discipline towards a bright future!
PUBLICIDAD MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Dear friends of SwordSports, may this Christmas shine with joy and success for all inspiring fencing lovers! Thank you for your continued support!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Content
Issue N° 1 / 2023 - December
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Editorial Back with more Passion and Energy! Veterna World Championship 2023 The United States made history Behind the mask Marja Someroja Trainers Spanish Association of Fencing Veterans Behind the mask Carlos Covani Physical Preparation in Veterans Age is a number Behind the mask Silvia Rothfeld Trainers Argentine Fencing Veterans
25 32 34
36 38 40 42 45
Behind the mask Julie Seal Behind the mask Claudio Pirani Fencing Photography Artistic Touches Behind the mask Lidya Fabry Technology in fencing ST 37 sports justice technology Behind the mask Pedro Gascón Pan American Fencing Championship Montevideo 2023 Food Performance-enhancing supplemen
Lounge of Master Stefano Gardenti
Directory TouchéWorld EDITOR IN CHIEF: Calú Pargas HEAD OF PRESS: Antonio Vásquez JOURNALISTS: María Leonor Colmenarez, Alberto Diaz Peluso EDITING AND TRANSLATION: María Trinidad Colmenares BRAZIL CORRESPONDENT: Lafaiete Papaiano US CORRESPONDENT: Ana Graciela Ramos Otero MARKETING DIRECTOR: Claudia Romero DIGITAL MARKETING & RRSS: Bianna Indelicato Pardo, Sebastián Pargas SALES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS: Sami Doria Vertel GRAPHIC DESIGN: Andrés Felipe Castro HEALTH AND NUTRITION: Lcda. Ivett Khawan DATA AND RESEARCH: Pedro Godoy AUDIOVISUAL PRODUCTION: Claudia Romero WEBMASTER AND PROGRAMMING: Hawrison Avendaño, David Mateo García Vallejo
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TouchéWorld VETERANS Magazine
TouchéWorld Magazine | VETERANS
Back with more Passion and Energy! Dear readers and fencing lovers,
We are back! After three challenging years marked by the pandemic crisis, it is a pleasure and honor to present to you the return of TouchéWorld Magazine, with a renewed focus and revitalized energy. We are pleased to announce that we will once again bring you highquality monthly content dedicated to fencing, starting with a special issue dedicated to the veteran’s category. In this long-awaited volume, we go deep into the world of veteran athletes, exploring inspiring stories, exclusive interviews with the protagonists of the latest competitions, and detailed recaps of the exciting World Championships held in Daytona Beach. We also highlight unforgettable moments from the recent Pan American Championships that took place in Montevideo, Uruguay, offering you a unique insight into the tactics, strategies and emotions that characterize the veteran fencing elite. But that is not all. In TouchéWorld Magazine | VETERANS, we are committed to providing comprehensive content that goes beyond the fencing courts. This issue includes articles dedicated to health and nutrition, providing our readers with valuable tips to stay at the top of their physical and mental fitness. We will explore topics of interest ranging from specific training for the veteran category to the latest trends in fencing equipment and technology. As we move forward, we want to celebrate every category of fencing, dedicating future monthly editions to the athletes and events that define every corner of this exciting discipline. We thank our loyal audience for their patience and support during these difficult times. Likewise, to the clubs, Federations, and Confederations, who are a fundamental part of our work. Likewise, we would like to acknowledge SwordSport for trusting and believing in our work at TouchéWorld. Without their unconditional support, none of this would have been possible. We are excited to embark on this new chapter of TouchéWorld Magazine and we are committed to bringing you exceptional content that reflects the passion and dedication that characterizes the fencing community. Welcome back to TouchéWorld Magazine, where fencing comes to life in every word and image. We hope you enjoy it,
Calú Pargas Gabaldón
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Veteran World Championship 2023
Veteran World Championships
Summary 2023
The United States made history at the Daytona Beach World Championship
The American delegation had a dream participation during the 2023 edition of the World Veteran Fencing Championships held in Daytona Beach, Florida, after winning a total of 24 medals, including 13 gold.
performance, achieving individual gold in the Women’s épée category 70+, thus completing a successful career in world events, by winning titles in the three veteran categories. 50-59, 60-69, and 70+.
Besides obtaining the overall title of the competition, the results achieved by the 72 fencers who took part of the American team represent a historic participation for any country in the maximum event of the category, since it has been a record number in both, the number of medals (24) as well as titles (13) obtained.
France and Italy completed the podium
Fencer Julie Seal led the outstanding North American performance, after winning four (04) medals, distributed in two gold in the individual events, and one gold and one silver in the Team events. Seal revalidated her title as Women’s Saber individual champion in the 5059 category and also obtained gold in Women’s Foil, becoming the first American fencer in the veteran category to win world titles in two different weapons and the second to do so in the entire history of the World Veteran Championships. The experienced Liz Kocab made her contribution to the historic American
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The representatives of France and Italy completed the podium of the general medal table, with each nation winning three titles. The outstanding French performance in Daytona Beach was centered in foil, since the country’s three gold medals were courtesy of this weapon. Two in individual events and one for teams. Cyril Lacroix became champion in the Men’s Foil in the 50-59 category, a test in which his teammate Bertrand Beaurenault won bronze, while Stephane Huerto added France’s second gold in the competition, this time in the Men’s Foil 60 -69. France’s third world title in the 2023 edition came in the Team category, where the men’s team formed by: Lacroix, Huerto and Beaurenault, as well as Didier Contrepois, Claude
Le Monnier and Emmanuel Shapira achieved the greatest honors. Italy, ranked third in the competition by winning three gold medals. Saber fencer Lorenzo Morretta won the 5059 category, while Iris Gardini did the same in the Women’s Foil 70+ category. The third Italian gold medal was brought home by the Women’s Foil team, with Iris Gardini, Elena Benucci, Gianna Cirillo, Marinella Garzini, Liqin Wei and Francesca Zurlo as part of the team. France finished the World Championship with 16 medals, distributed in three gold, three silver and 10 bronze, while the Italian delegation won third place in the overall medal table, after achieving 11 podiums, including three gold, three silver and five bronze.
Épée fencers give gold to Germany The German delegation experienced a productive world competition by winning nine medals, including two gold medals courtesy of its épéeists, who won gold in individual and team events.
TouchéWorld VETERANS Magazine
The épéeist Frauke Hohlbein won gold in the women’s event in the 6069 age category, a division in which Gerthard Birkenmaier and Astrid Kircheis contributed with silver medals to the Germans in the Men’s Épée and Women’s Foil, respectively. Germany’s second gold came in the Team category, through the Women’s Épée team, where Frauke Hohlbein and Astrid Kircheis, along with Barbel Gorius, Carolin Marheineke, Ute Schiffmann and Sonja Tippelt got the title. In addition to the two gold medals, the German representation got four silver and three bronze medals at the world championship.
Great Britain, Australia and Sweden achieved gold The rest of the World Veterans Championship titles were shared between the teams of Great Britain, Australia and Sweden. The British Georgina Usher won gold for her country, after she dominated the Women’s Épée event in the 50-59 category, while Peter Osvath did the same for Australia in the Men’s Épée event in the 70+ category . Meanwhile, Sweden won its gold medal in the Men’s Épée in the 60-69 category, through Jan Tivenius, who climbed to the top of the podium. The 2023 Veteran World Fencing Championship brought together more than 600 fencers from the 5059, 60-69, and 70+ categories, who tested their talent, experience, and passion for the discipline during six days of competition.
Medal Table
Veterans 2023
Individual Results Category 50-59
Women’s Épée
Men’s Épée
Women’s Foil
Men’s foil
Women’s Sabre
Men’s sabre
Georgina Usher Annica De Groote Abigail Nutt Carole Charroy
Cyril Lacroix Nick Payne Darko Limov Bertrand Beaurenault
Jon Normile Emmanuel Peyret Lacombe Akinori Katashima Claudio Pirani
Julie Seal Gunilla Graudins Catherine Hori Nicole Thome
Julie Seal Jane Carter Larisa Salamandra Francesca Zurlo
Lorenzo Morretta Svend Berger Hartmut Wrase Olivier Sequerre
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Veteran World Championships 2023
Individual Results Category 60-69
Women’s Épée
Men’s Épée
Women’s Foil
Men’s foil
Women’s Sabre
Men’s sabre
Women’s Épée
Men’s Épée
Women’s Foil
Men’s foil
Women’s Sabre
Men’s sabre
Women’s Épée
Men’s Épée
Women’s Foil
Men’s foil
Women’s Sabre
Men’s sabre
Jan Tivenius Gerthard Birkenmaier Walter Dragonetti Herve Le Barbier
Frauke Hohlbein Sarah Osvath Lorraine Hoyne Gianna Cirillo
Lydia Fabry Robin Pernice Sylvie Zini Jane Hutchison
Stephane Huerto Adam Reynolds Kenichi Umezawa Jhon Troiano
Jenette Starks-Faulkner Astrid Kircheis Gillian Worman Anne-Marie Walters
Mark Lundborg Geza Kas Steven Heck Alberto Feira Chios
Category 70+ Elizabeth Kocab Marja-Liisa Soomeroja Ibolya Hoffmann Charlotta Bowie
Peter Osvath Laszlo Imreh Jean-Louis Noel Francois Gaudry
Jane Eyre Jeannine Bender Silvia Brown Linda Dunn
Thomas Lutton Yutaka Yamazaki Laszlo Imreh Elichi Ide
Iris Gardini Brigitte Delacour Judith Offerle Maria-Liisa Someroja
Josep Streb Riccardo Carmina Carl Morris Garik Gutman
Teams Category A, B, C Estados Unidos Hungría Francia
Alemania Hungría Francia
Estados Unidos Gran Bretaña Italia
Francia Italia Japon
Italia Estados Unidos Alemania
Estados Unidos Italia Gran Bretaña
Medal Table
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País
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Country
Gold
Silver
Bronze
USA
13
4
7
Hungary
0
3
2
France
3
3
10
Japan
0
1
4
Italy
3
3
5
Finland
0
1
1
Germany
2
4
3
Canada
0
0
1
Great Britain
1
2
6
Croatia
0
0
1
Australia
1
1
1
AIN
0
0
1
Sweden
1
1
0
To the entire FencingTV team, may this holiday season be filled with excitement and memorable moments. Thank you for bringing the excitement of fencing to every corner!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
To the Argentine Fencing Federation, may this Christmas be a time of unity and success for all fencers in Argentina! Thank you for your commitment to this beautiful sport!
PUBLICIDAD MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Dear members of the Bolivian Fencing Federation, may this Christmas illuminate your hearts with joy and prosperity! Thank you for taking fencing to the highest level in Bolivia!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Marja Someroja Behind The Mask / Marja Someroja (FIN)
Name: Marja-Liisa Tuulikki Someroja Nickname: Tiny or Tini Dateand placeof birth: Finland, November 30th de 1946 Club: Helsingin Miekkailijat - Helsinki Fencers
Weight: 60 kg Height: 1.65 cm Weapon: Épée and sabre. Orientation: Right-handed TW: How did you get into fencing, and at what age? Who inspired or motivated you to take up the sport?
TW: What lessons or good things have you gotten from fencing in your personal life? What have these lessons been helpful for? MLS: It is better at least to try! If you lose when doing nothing, you are not satisfied. It is better to take a risk and do something. Look at the opponent and try to solve what is coming. TW: What satisfactions has fencing given you? MLS: Sometimes even one perfect hit can make you happy. You have tried to learn it and suddenly you manage to do that in an important match. For foil fencers it is always great fun to touch the opponent’s hand or wrist or knee.
MLS: I was 17 years old, when I saw fencing first time. I had played Finnish baseball two summers and felt I would like to find an inside sport. Fencers came to train on the playground where we had oru baseball training and from then I am passionate about fencing.
TW: Which past or present fencer do you admire the most and why?
TW: What have been your greatest achievements on the strip?
TW: What other things do you do besides fencing in your daily life?
MLS: I have 9 epee world championships and 4 in foil in veterans categories. First one and of course the best one was 2001 in Martinique. Besides one team gold 2018. After having 3 consecutive gold in a row 2001,2002 and 2003, the winning was not so important anymore
MLS: I love dancing too. Waltz, tango, rock and roll, jive etc. I do it with my husband. It can take 4 hours in one evening. Also cross country, skiing in wintertime, also some downhill, tennis in summertime, Nordic walking, gym, bowling.
TW: What made you persevere to become the fencer you are today? MLS: I love fencing and love to do it. To practice fencing makes my body and mind feel better and makes me feel better too. Of course I do other sports too. TW: What do you like the most about fencing? What inspires you today to keep practicing it?
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MLS: I think I like or even love the family in fencing. It is big international family. It is always nice to meet. It makes me smile. look happier after the championships, when meeting all the people.. I also want to keep fit. If I stop fencing, my knees and back could collapse. So it is better and easier to keep going. And I can still learn
MLS: Marie-Chantal Demaille has been amazing. She is now 82 years old and still a veteran in very good shape. She is very strong in tactics too.
TW: How do you combine your personal and sporting life? MLS: Sport has always been part of my life. I tried to keep it when I had small children of my own. We share time, mother and father, not only for mother. Mother can also do other things like sport. TW: How do you prepare yourself before a competition? MLS: I take a short break before, a few days, so not too much hard training. Eat more energy a few days before. Make
It is better to take a risk and do something than to lose without doing anything
TouchéWorld VETERANS Magazine
sure all the equipment is ok. After that, you can focus confidently on the upcoming tournament. TW: Do you have a special diet? Are there any foods or drinks you don’t consume? MLS: I normally eat food which gives me energy, not only protein. Nowadays when I am old already, I should have more protein, otherwise I ll get smaller with muscles etc. When is a competition day I do not eat eggs in the morning. Coffee, only one cup per day, I drink many cups of hot water in the morning. It makes me warm. I eat also oat porridge every morning. TW: What do you think is important for a fencing veteran to have to be successful in the category? MLS: It would be good to take care of your body in general. It should be flexible and stretchy and be able to react in many ways on the floor, go forward and backwards. So, gymnastics, dancing, yoga etc. would help. You cannot drink too much alcohol, I would have a glass of dry white wine now and then. I do not smoke. I have always taken good care of my health, had lymph therapy regularly, and also other treatments like massage. Walking outside in fresh air. TW: Do you listen to music while training? If you do, what genre and why? MLS: I love to listen to latin music or rock, not hard rock. It makes me smile, dance and move. TW: What are your dreams as an athlete and as a person? MLS: I already have many world championships, it is not so important to win, but if I do stupid things, it irritates me, but if the other one is better, it is very much ok and I am happy for her. I would like to tra-
vel and see new places. In fencing you see mainly people, airports, hotels and fencing halls, not much of the country you are visiting. TW: What would you say to young people who dream about being outstanding athletes but don’t dare to do it because they think it is a hard road to follow? MLS: It would be good to have not only one sport to start with. After doing both for some time, perhaps a few years, you could choose which one is better for you. Remember to take care of your education, because after a sports career you need to start working and to find an interesting job. TW: What benefits do you think veteran fencing has? MLS: You practice and do sports to keep your condition ok. Then you feel better in your private life and you are capable of doing everything, to move and also to fence TW: What would you say to middle-aged fencers and also to non-fencers? MLS: Please continue fencing. It gives you friends, it keeps you moving and feeling better with your body and mind. You’ll have better balance with your body, your head is working, your reactions stay, Fencing keeps you using your legs and it helps you keep your body balance, you do not collapse on the stairs or climbing up or down at least not so easily.
TW: How do you recover from defeat? MLS: If I did something stupid, I am a little angry at myself, but still smiling. Nowadays because I have enough wins, it is easier, no pressure to win, but when younger I accepted if somebody was stronger, only I wanted to learn more. TW: What phrase do you identify with and reflect your philosophy of life? MLS: Maybe a little bit of destiny or it is meant to be like this but not always accept that and try to change the way it goes. TW: Who is the opponent that has made it the most difficult for you in your years of competition? MLS: In foil I always had Kerstin Palm from Sweden, so I was not so much interested to meet her in veterans too. But we have met many times. TW: What do you think of when you are in combat? MLS: I do not think too much. Focus on the opponent, somehow counting her movements automatically. Keep body balance, it is easier to move with the legs and easier to use the hand with the weapon. TW: What advice would you give to new fencers? MLS: At least try! And until the end, do not stop too early. The referee will say halt, when it is time.
TW: Which has been the happiest moment in your life? MLS: When I had my children. My son was born in 1975 and my daughter in 1983
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Trainers AEVE Trainers
As an alternative to keep people active on the strips and promote a healthy life, the Spanish Association of Fencing Veterans emerged almost 20 years ago, an institution that has grown to become one of the references among the veteran community of fencers.
The common desire to enjoy together an activity that brings satisfaction and health benefits has made the Association a great meeting place where fencing has a plus. “Our main mission is to promote fencing in veterans, that is, when for different reasons the absolute category is not accessible or becomes complicated, we offer a calendar of competitions in order to have activities and promote participation in national and international tournaments. “, highlights Ángela De Rioja, Secretary General of the Spanish Association of Fencing Veterans.
Spanish Association of Fencing Veterans
20 years of growth The institution was founded in 2004 privately with the support of the Royal Spanish Fencing Federation. By then, it was a small group of members who bet on the idea. Some épéeists and foilists were the first to join and believe in the project. Today there are more than 150 affiliated members who share a common good and enjoy every assault on the floors. Members have the right to participate in all the events that are organized, such as the European Championship or the European Veterans Circuit, in which around 2,500 people see action. In addition, members enjoy entering the association’s ranking, as well as participating in the exclusive AEVE
competitions association.
organized
by
the
Veterans from 30 years old For the Spanish Association, the Veterans category begins at 30 years of age, which they define as “category zero”, 40-49 years (Cat - A), 50-59 years (Cat - B), 60-69 years (Cat - C) and 70+ years (Cat - D). “There are people who still do not understand, but when there is someone who has a job or life project that prevents them from training at a high performance level, the Spanish Association of Fencing Veterans opens the doors for them to continue enjoying this passion. That’s why we consider that the category can start from the age of 30,” says De Rioja.
They don’t forget the competition While it is true that the veteran category is a community that continues to move forward in a healthy and sporting life, the Association does not forget that it also competes. “We continue to have older athletes who compete like young people within their possibilities. We must not forget that people want to compete,” emphasizes De Rioja. For the Secretary General of the institution, there is a misconception about the activity of the category. “The veteran fencer likes to play sports and compete, if after the competitions there is any kind of sharing, it’s fantastic, but what drives the veteran is fundamentally the competition and fencing.”
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To everyone in the Spanish Fencing Federation, may this Christmas be full of triumphs and special moments for the entire fencing community in Spain! Thank you for your continued support!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Carlos Behind The Mask / Carlos Covani (ARG)
Covani Name: Carlos Enrique Covani Place of birth: Rosario, Argentina. Date of birth: 30/12/1967 Club: Jockey Club de Rosario Weight: 85 kg. Height: 1,80 mts. Weapon: Épée - Foil Orientation: Right-handed
to start university, I returned to the club where I started to resume uninterruptedly what I am passionate about, fencing. TW: How has your career been on the strips? CC: It has been a quite fruitful career, although affected by life and family circumstances, moving around or not having the financial resources, those situations prevented me from having fencing as a priority, but despite that I have been two times national champion in my country -Argentina-. Perhaps when I was younger I wasn’t consistent in terms of performance, but now as a veteran I have maintained a much better level. I’m actually a better fencer now.
TW: How did you start fencing and at what age?
TW: What do you consider are your greatest achievements in fencing?
CC: My first contact with fencing was when I was 11 years old, but due to family relocation, five years later I had to stop practicing, because where we moved, there was no place for fencing. However, I always knew that I was going to return and that is why I had kept my electric jacket, Épées and foils. When I returned to the city of Rosario
CC: Everything has had its moment. For example, being national champion in 2000 was the greatest achievement I’ve had for many years. But now as a veteran I have been winning medals for the last 10 or 12 years in all the South American and Pan American Championships. TW: What made you persevere and become the fencer you are today? CC: The passion for fencing. I have always said that I am not an athlete, I am a fencer. I don’t even do the physical part. When I get to the room I get dressed and begin the assaults at once without stopping for the three hours I have.Fencing is a vice.
Fencing is my vice, that’s why I always clarify that I’m not an athlete, I’m a fencer. 16
TouchéWorld VETERANS Magazine
TW: What are you most passionate about fencing? CC: The mental game and competition. The management of strategy and the possibility of reading and decoding the rival is what I am most passionate about. TW: What have you learned from fencing? CC: The main thing has been learning to deal with frustration. You have to learn to live with defeat, accept it and learn from it. Not only in sport, but this also happens in daily life and fencing has helped me understand this. TW: What satisfaction has fencing given you? CC: Fencing has given me recognition from people that I appreciate and respect a lot, and that feeds the ego, it is something that cannot be denied, being respected by someone that one also looks up to is quite satisfying. TW: Besides fencing, what other activities do you do? CC: I share my passion for fencing with my professional work as a Lawyer in the city of Rosario and housework.
TW: How do you go about training? CC: I train at least 4 days a week. I dedicate three hours to training fencing. TW: Do you follow any diet in preparation? CC: Eight years ago I improved the way I eat and since then I have maintained an organized and balanced diet. TW: Do you listen to music for training or in competitions? CC: Sometimes I use it to warm-up, but it’s not something I usually do. TW: What do you think could be the key to be successful at the veteran level? CC: I think the fundamental thing is to know how to dissociate the veteran category from the adult or senior category. The veteran has a different way of moving and moving the hand compared to the adult or senior, so you have to know how to differentiate that. I learned it with experience. TW: What do you consider to be your most exciting moment in fencing?
international competition and the Argentine anthem played. That moment was very emotional. It was at the Pan American Veteran Championship in Aruba and it was truly incredible. TW: Any coach or coaches that have influenced your sporting life? CC: There have been two coaches. The first is Bruno Roncali, who was my master trainer. I appreciate him so much that my son is named after him. The other is my current coach, Marcelo Cardarelli, who has dedicated a lot of time and patience to me. They are two coaches with a lot of human quality. They are great. TW: How do you recover from defeat? CC: Now more easily. I used to stay angry for a long time. In defeats you always have something to blame myself for but now it doesn’t happen very often to me. TW: What is your biggest dream as an athlete right now? CC: Today I am obsessed with being world champion. I feel very close to it and I know I can achieve it.
CC: I think the most exciting moment was the first time I finished first in an
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Physical Preparation in Veterans
AGE IS A NUMBER
not a limitation Proper recovery is another vital part for maintaining physical fitness in athletes over 40 years old. Ensuring you get enough rest and allowing your body to recover after intense training is essential to avoid injury and maintain an optimal performance. This may include taking scheduled rest days, getting enough sleep, and practicing techniques to relax such as stretching and meditation.
In summary, maintaining physical fitness in athletes over 40 requires a combination of regular exercise, a healthy diet, proper recovery and listening to our body. With the right dedication, it is possible to stay in shape and enjoy an active and healthy life at any age. So go ahead athletes over 40 years old, keep up the pace and continue enjoying your sports activities. Maintaining physical fitness is essential for overall health and wellbeing, especially in athletes over 40 years old. According to Physical Trainer, Erick Fariñe, as we age, our body experiences natural changes that can affect our athletic ability. However, with the right dedication, it is possible to stay in shape and continue to enjoy an active and healthy life. Among the main recommendations to maintain good physical condition when you are a veteran athlete, Fariñe highlights the importance of establishing a regular and prudent exercise routine. “Exercise should be progressive, starting from the lowest and then increasing the loads according to the capacity of each person,” he said.
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For athletes over 40 years of age, the trainer indicates that to determine how to work on your physique, the main thing is to know what shape you are in and know your limitations. “The exercise must be carried out in a controlled manner, it is not about lifting 10 thousand kilos, it is not skipping rope for the sake of it, but rather, gradually controlling the loads.” “In the case of veteran fencers, throughout their age they lose movement in the shoulder girdle and spine, therefore, these are the areas where regenerative exercises focus the most to keep them in competition,” he highlights. These exercises or special works for fencers help to keep the joints lubricated, to regain control over the body’s muscles so that the athlete can be in a position to go to combat.
Dear members of OSU Fencing, may this Christmas be filled with achievements and camaraderie for all fencers! Thank you for your commitment and dedication!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Silvia Behind The Mask / Silvia Rothfeld (BRA)
Rothfeld Name: Silvia Rothfeld Place of birth: Porto Alegre, Brazil Date of birth: 09/04/1971 Club: Club Athletico Paulistano Weight: 80kg. Height: 1.70 meters. Weapon: Foil Orientation: Right-handed
TW: How did you start fencing and at what age? SR: I started fencing at the age of 13 while at school in Porto Alegre, after a teacher showed several Olympic sports for us to experience. TW: Who motivated and inspired you to take up fencing? SR: Coach Joao Rosa was who motivated me from the beginning. He told me that I had a good potential to be a champion. He helped me by giving me the material to start training. He really was someone very important during my beginnings in fencing. TW: How has your career been on the strip? SR: It has been a career with different sensations, because despite having been number one in Brazil for many years, I feel a certain failure for not having gone to the Olympic Games. But now I feel very happy with everything that fencing has given me, and I am even a physiotherapist thanks to fencing.
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TW: What do you consider have been your greatest achievements in fencing? SR: Having been Brazilian champion four times in a row, which at the time was something difficult. Also finish third in the Pan American Games. However, I think my greatest achievement was competing the Olympic cycle in 2004, in which despite having performed very well in Grand Prix and other events, I was left out of qualifying for the Olympics by a single point. Although the objective was not achieved, I consider it an achievement to have gotten there. TW: What made you persevere and become the fencer you are today? SR: Never stop. You always have to insist and persist. Today we can shoot poorly, but tomorrow we have to go out and give our best. TW: What are you most passionate about fencing? SR: The control you have on the strip. Being able to decide and do what you see is convenient to win. Fencing has something that other sports don’t, and that is that you can face the best in the world, and you can beat him by having a good strategy and a great day. TW: What has fencing taught you? SR: That life is all about falling and rising. It is normal to fall, we see it in great athletes and even more in
TouchéWorld VETERANS Magazine
fencing, but today we can fall and tomorrow we can be champions.
injuries, which is, for example, one of the most common.
TW: What satisfaction has fencing given you?
TW: What do you recommend to avoid injuries?
SR: The friends I have met and trips I have been able to take. I have real friends in many cities around the world.
SR: Have good physical preparation before starting any activity and do work on hip and thoracic mobility.
TW: Besides fencing, what other activities do you do?
TW: What do you consider to be your most exciting moment in fencing?
SR: I love pilates. I am a Physiotherapist and I work with Pilates. I also have another passion which is wheelchair fencing, where I work with the Paralympic champion, Jovane Guissone. I love using the knowledge that fencing has given me to help other people.
SR: I think, achieving my first national gold. I started fencing when I was 13 and 12 years later, I won my first championship in Brazil. That moment has been one of the most exciting.
TW: How do you prepare before a competition?
SR: My first coach, Joao Rosa, to whom I will always be grateful and Master Pier Luigi Chicca, who changed my life in fencing.
SR: Before competitions I take advantage of my work with Gissone -Jovane- to shoot the foil for a while and also with my husband -Marco Nelz Xavier- I do a few rounds a week and we watch a lot of fencing videos. TW: How do you combine your personal life with your sports life? SR: My life is based on sports -between laughs-. On any day, I take care of my athlete at his gym and then I fence. After I get home, I watch fencing videos with my husband, and we talk about the sport. There is no period of separation between my personal life and my sporting life.
TW: Any coach or coaches that have influenced your sporting life?
Masters Ricardo Ferrazzi and Regis Trois have also been very special and have also been part of my career. TW: How do you recover from defeat? SR: I always think about the next competition. I know there is always another chance to do better. TW: What is your biggest dream as an athlete right now? SR: Get a medal in a Veteran World Championship. I don’t know in which category, or age, but I’m not going to retire from fencing until I achieve that. TW: What advice do you give to those new to fencing? SR: We always have a power that makes us achieve what we set out to do, but we have to believe in ourselves.
As long as I can walk, I’m going to fence and if I stop walking, I’m going to fence in a wheelchair. I’m going to fence until my last breath.
TW: Do you listen to music for training or in competitions? SR: A lot. I love Brazilian music to inspire me before the competition. I mostly like samba. TW: What do you think is the main challenge for veteran shooters? SR: Avoiding injuries. We are no longer the same age or we do not have the same physical conditions as before, so one challenge is to avoid knee
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Trainers Trainers
Argentine Fencing Veterans Commission
Under the premise that all efforts together facilitate the achievement of goals or objectives, the Argentine Commission of Fencing Veterans works towards the growth and consolidation of the category. The need to organize and select representatives of the veteran category for the different events was the main reason why the Argentine Fencing Veterans Commission was created 7 years ago, an institution dependent on the Argentine Fencing Federation. “It started only with 5 male fencers, and little by little the group grew. Other weapons were added, and later women were incorporated. Today there are around 55 fencers that make up the category,” says Carlos Covani, who chairs the commission.
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Massifying the category The intention to organize and define the country’s representatives resulted in the massification of the category, since this organization was reflected in the incorporation of fencers who had left and new athletes who joined the veteran movement. The definition of a calendar of exclusive tournaments for the category and the creation of a National Veteran Ranking generated the interest of a community that continues to grow today and is now showing results. “It has worked really well, in fact at the beginning there were few of us and there was no problem on classifying to the tournaments, however since this year 2023, the situation changed because due to the Pan American Championship in Uruguay, there were
many interested athletes and despite the fact that six fencers were allowed per each weapon and category, there were people who couldn’t participate,” Covani, who has lived the entire process as a manager and athlete, states with emotion.
Formalizing the Association The veteran category has had persistent growth in Argentina, where it went from three or four representatives in an international event, to having 26 fencers in the last Pan American Championship, a fact that has prompted the creation of the Argentine Association of Fencing Veterans, an institution that already has a founding charter. Although they recognize the support they have had from the federation, the commission considers it necessary to create the association, in
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order to continue strengthening the participation of the category. “The issue of creating the association arises from an economic necessity. In the list of priorities of any State, the veteran’s category is last, so through this creation, we are constantly looking to obtain sponsors that can deal directly with the association and ensure that this support is really for the veteran category,” the Commission highlights. The creation process is in an administrative and registration stage in the state agency, so it is expected to be completed next year 2024.
“We will continue to be a complement to the federation to help achieving a better development in the veteran’s category, taking advantage of the growth it has had.”
References on the continent The evolution of the veteran category in Argentina is not only in quantity, but is also reflected in results, since the Argentine representatives have been leaving good feelings in the different events, such as in the recent 2023 edition of the Pan American Championship of the category, where the delegation ranked third in the overall medal table.
The Argentine team finished the continental competition with a total of 15 medals, distributed in four gold, four silver and seven bronze. Likewise, during the 2023 edition of the Veterans World Championship, Argentina ranked among the top 10 of the Cat-50-59 Men’s Sword, through Carlos Covani, who finished eighth in the test. This way, the Argentine veteran delegation, step by step has become a reference in the continent. convertido en una de las referentes en el continente.
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Lounge of Master
StefanoGardenti A master of fencing dissemination in Italy and the world
Although his passion for fencing began fighting on the strips more than 60 years ago, Master Stefano Gardenti has been in charge of bringing practice to theory, as part of his work to promote and disseminate the discipline. Although theory usually leads to practice, in the case of Gardenti, he has used the knowledge acquired during his career as an athlete and coach to disseminate information in favor of the massification of fencing in his native Italy and the world. “I have dedicated myself to research and above all to the dissemination of fencing, that is why I created the website https://www. passionescherma.it/, which main task is uniting fencers from all over the world,” says the Italian master, referring to the website in which he shares his knowledge about fencing, its practice and practitioners through articles, books, images and videos.
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Stefano Gardenti joined the fencing community in 1962 during his childhood, in a school year, and 22 years later, he obtained his first title of Master of Épée at the Fencing Academy in Naples, Italy.
This promotion and dissemination work has turned https://www. passionescherma.it/ into a meeting room for fencers, and even sports fans, who enter with the intention of learning about the discipline.
“It is important that all fencers, and even the older ones - veterans - are not limited to just practicing, but rather that they know the values that inspire it and the principles that can be scientific in nature, such as the application of geometry and physics in fencing, or the other things that come behind the universe, fencing a true world,” he emphasizes.
In addition, the Master has published a book titled “Analysis of Fencing: When psychology and fencing meet on stage”, which is currently on sale and in which he analyzes the link between both disciplines, placing emphasis on the relational aspect of sport.
From his website https://www. passionescherma.it/, Gardenti is dedicated to teach theoretically the basic fundamentals of fencing, based on scientific research and knowledge acquired during his career as an athlete and coach.
Each chapter of this book presents a technical discussion explained for even non-experts to understand, and a supporting “psychological interpretation”, reflected by analogy. “My dream is that in Italy and the world, at least one hundredth of those who play football, practice fencing.”
Julie
SEAL
The reflection of the passion for fencing and thirst for success
Name: Julie Thompson Seal Place of Birth: Mtn Home AFB Date of birth: 17/06/1972 Club: Valkyrie Fencing Club Height: 1,55 mts Weapon: Épée - Foil Orientation: Right-handed Coach: Mark Stasinos
Fotografía: @kianabatesphoto
Behind The Mask / Julie Seal (USA)
Her passion for fencing and thirst for success reflect the personality of Julie Seal, who from a young age has known how to overcome obstacles until now becoming a reference in the veteran fencing category, where she’s set to leave a great mark. With her performances and results at the national and international level, the American fencer writes her successful story on the strips, which started in the 90s when she won her first podiums. Discipline and perseverance are synonyms of Seal’s sporting and personal career, who despite having started fencing at the age of 19 and competing at the age of 21, has countless recognitions that have even led her to join the Sports Hall of Fame in her native Utah
A passion since childhood Although she practiced different sports since she was a child, her passion for fencing was always in her DNA. “I remember when I was a kid, I
Fotografía: @kianabatesphoto
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got in big trouble because I broke the antenna of my father’s pick-up truck and pretended to sword-fight. If I got in trouble as a kid, it was because I accidentally stabbed someone with a stick while playing with swords. So, for me, I think the love of the game of sword fighting is more important than winning, but I hate losing, so I do my best to win,” she says with a laugh. For the foil and saber specialist, the passion for fencing focuses on the combination of the athletic part with the tactics, in addition to the independence that the fencer has on the floor. “I love that I’m the one calling the tactical shots, I love that it’s all about me and how I can personally improve on the next thing, based on the information that I just got from the last action I did. It’s a game where I feel in total control of whatever is happening.”
A passion since childhood Behind every triumph, every title and every medal of Julie Seal, there is a
difficult past in which she had to deal with different circumstances, such as her economic situation at the beginning of her career, therefore, in order to pay for trips and competitions, the fencer found it necessary to combine her time as an athlete with that of a referee. “At that time I was very poor, I didn’t have any sort of financial support, so I learned how to referee, and then I financed my way to all of the competitions by helping set up the competition or by refereeing during competitions. I would sleep on the floor or on someone’s sofa and eat the Taco Bell’s $0.99 menu, so that I could survive while I was on the trips,” she recalls. Today, after a career of more than 30 years as an athlete, coach, referee and even mother, Seal continues to
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After having my fifth child, I decided to give fencing another try again, where I had a very good re-entry into the world of fencing and won the National Championship for the veteran women’s 40 foil and saber, and just remembered why I love fencing, so I decided to continue. achieve success in each event she participates in, such as the World Veteran Championships, of which she is two-time champion in Women’s Individual Saber category A (50 -59) and recent monarch of the Women’s Individual Foil. Both titles have made her the first veteran American fencer to win a gold medal in two different weapons and the second to do so in the entire history of the world championships in the category, as announced by Usa Fencing on its official website. The American ended up leading her country’s delegation during the 2023 Veteran World Championships, held in Daytona Beach, Florida, after winning four medals, including two gold in the individual events and another gold and silver in the Team modality..
Like the Fénix Julie’s sports career has had two stages divided by her role as a mother. When she turned 30, she got married and became a mother of five children, a time during which she had some health complications, which made her abandon fencing and even think about her permanent retirement. However, the medalist from the 1999 Pan American Games managed to return and in the best way, becoming American champion. “After having my fifth child, I decided to give fencing another try again, where I had a very good re-entry into the world of fencing and won the National Championship for the veteran women’s 40 Fotografía: @kianabatesphoto
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Behind The Mask / Julie Seal (USA)
foil and saber, and just remembered why I love fencing, so I decided to continue “. She has transmitted that love for fencing to her family, since her husband and her five children, and even her son-in-law, practice the discipline. “We’re all in our fencing club here in Utah now,” she emphasizes.
Sharing knowledge In addition to maintaining her career as an athlete, Julie and her family cu-
Fotografía: @kianabatesphoto
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rrently run the Valkyrie Fencing Club, where she shares her knowledge daily with the members of the club, giving private and group lessons. “You would think that lessons are the most helpful, but I would say that when you teach somebody something it forces you to solidify it in your mind, how to do something exactly frame by frame.” For Julie, teaching fencing generates, in addition to an economic benefit, the opportunity to continue streng-
thening her own talent. “It helps you solidify and master everything you’re doing in your brain, triples your practice time, gives you an opportunity to practice your footwork and your physical work.” Now, Julie Seal works on her health and dreams of continuing to learn new skills and defy age. “To defy age and to surround myself with the love of my family. Those are my two biggest dreams,” she said.
To the entire USA Fencing team, may this holiday season bring success and unity to the fencing community in the United States! Thank you for your continued support!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
To everyone at Club La Florida Chile, May this Christmas shine with joy and success for the entire fencer family! Thank you for being a source of inspiration!
PUBLICIDAD MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Dear friends of Lafaiete Papaiano Action Photography, may this Christmas season be full of unforgettable and exciting moments! Thank you for capturing the essence of fencing!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Claudio Behind The Mask / Claudio Pirani (ITA)
Pirani
Name: Claudio Pirani Place of birth: Génova, Italy Date of birth: July 8th 1969
Club: Cesare Pompilio Weight: 78 KG. Height: 1.83 mts. Weapon: Épée Orientation: Right-handed
TW: How did you start fencing and at what age? Who inspired or motivated you to practice this sport? CP: I started fencing when I was 8 years old and I have never stopped. My father, who also fenced, was the one who took me to the fencing room for the first time. TW: Please tell us about your fencing journey throughout your life. CP: I have never stopped practicing fencing. In some periods I have practiced more, in others less, but I have never stopped doing it. I have changed some clubs depending on my work trips, for example I have also practiced fencing in Hungary where I stayed for a year in 1997. As a kid, I’ve probably spent more time in the gym than I did
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in the books. My Master Ezio Zanobini, (father of my current Master Paolo) also taught me how to ski and was, in some ways, my best friend. My best results came as a team, we won the Italian team championship in 1994, 1996, and 1998. TW: What made you persevere to become the fencer you are today? CP: Well, I have been a coach for more than 10 years, a referee and for a short time a teacher. I have experienced the world of fencing from all sides and that has made it fun. TW: What do you like most about fencing? What inspires you today to continue practicing it? CP: Let’s say that after having prac ticed fencing all my life, the idea of going to the gym and lifting weights is not so attractive. Running after a ball is too hard (14 meters is enough). In the end, fencing has the mix of strategy, “me against you”, friendships with other fencers that make this sport unique in the world. TW: What lessons or good things have you learned from fencing in your personal life? What have these lessons been used for? CP: The best lesson is to concentrate in a second, since normally before you are called to the floor you are chatting with someone, in addition to the fact that you are responsible for your results and your defeats, since the excuse that someone didn’t pass the ball when you were in the perfect position is not valid. TW: Which fencer past or present do you most admire and why? CP: I love how fast Cannone fences. TW: What other things do you do besides fencing in your daily life? CP: Besides working, I sometimes play football as a goalkeeper, because it is useful for reflexes and I love DIY in almost all subjects (plumber, electrician, motorist, etc.).
Believing and trusting in yourself is the best answer to doubts.
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TW: How many hours do you train a day? CP: A couple of times a week, for two hours. TW: How many hours do you rest? CP: I sleep as much as I can. About seven hours a night. TW: How do you balance your personal and sporting life? CP: Not having children or a wife is easy. If I can leave the office at a good time, I can go to practice from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. twice a week. Tournaments are a good excuse to visit places. TW: How do you prepare before a competition? CP: During the year the rule is “No training after Thursday.” For the world championships I have trained more, some athletically, although very few since I hate doing it. TW: Do you have a special diet? Is there any food or drink that you don’t consume? CP: Not really. Italian cuisine is a perfect mix of proteins and carbohydrates. TW: What do you think is important for a fencing veteran to be successful in the category? CP: Enjoy your time, since it is free time between everyday problems. It’s your comfort zone. Feel relaxed, enjoy with your fencing partners. Having a free mind is the best state of mind to compete successfully. TW: Do you listen to music while you train? If you do, what genre and why?
CP: While I train I don’t have background music, there is enough noise in the fencing room. TW: What are your dreams as an athlete and as a person? CP: As an athlete, being third in the world championship, I have almost reached the best. I would like to have a good team to compete in the Italian veteran championships, where we won the last time in 2021, but in 2022 we did not participate since there were only two of us. Let’s hope to find the third. TW: What would you say to young people who dream of being outstanding athletes but don’t dare to do it because they think it is a difficult path? CP: No pain, no gain. It’s not that original but it’s the truth. I would add “practice, practice, practice”, which is not original either, but it is what one needs. TW: What benefits do you think veteran fencing has? CP: You experience fencing with the aim of leaving everyday problems (office, family, etc.) behind. Every minute is a gift, and you love it, starting with the previous dinner. TW: What would you say to middleaged fencers and also non-fencers? CP: I would say to non-fencers that fencing is a life experience, why not try it? It is never too late. I would tell middle-aged fencers to continue practicing. It’s fun, useful and different from most sports. TW: Could you tell us an anecdote that you remember, please? CP: At university, a professor discovered that I fenced and during a final exam he spent about 30 minutes
asking questions about fencing instead of the topic of the exam. Then he asked just two easy questions about the topic. The other students were amazed by the duration (it was usually 10 minutes maximum). TW: What has been the most difficult moment of your life? (Voluntary question) CP: When my parents died. They had always supported me all these years, and were not there to make the usual call at the end of the competition. But they have probably seen it all from above. TW: How do you recover from defeat? CP: Go have a beer. Hate yourself for a couple of days and then get back to the gym. Fencing is defeats and victories. TW: Who is the coach or coaches that have marked your life as an athlete and why? CP: The main ones, unfortunately all deceased, were Master Broccini when I was a child and Master Ezio Zanobini from the age of 16 to 40. Now Paolo, Ezio’s son, is my teacher along with Edoardo Zanello. TW: Who is the rival that has made it most difficult for you in your years of competition? CP: Too many. In Italy last year Luca Magni, Gabriele Vincenzi and Tommaso Vichi were my strongest opponents. In over 45 years of fencing, there are too many to list. TW: What advice would you give to new fencers? CP: Enjoy. The results will come.
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Fencing Photography
fencing to Touches of arts bring
international galleries
Fencers may not have a face on the strip, but they have a unique identity, which is revealed by their movements during combat. Under this perception, the Brazilian photographer Lafaiete Papaiano fulfills the honorable task of giving touches to the arts, capturing magical moments of fencing that are now exhibited in different international galleries. With more than a decade as a photography professional, Papaiano has maintained his passion for fencing, tapping his camera to capture every body expression of the protagonists on the strip. “This body language allows us to identify each of the fencers and their feelings, photography captures these moments, also allowing us to reveal the skills of each of the athletes and identifying them on the strip,” says Papaiano. Currently the Brazilian photographer is participating in three exhibitions in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, with his works “A Look at the World”, in the City of Ubatuba, “The Art that Builds Us”, in the Verarte Gallery and another called “Italia from North to South in the Circolo Italiano”. “I am also involved in the Sao Paulo 470 Years Project, a project that involves several artists from several different languages, which foresees the launching of a book and a large exhibition on Avenida Paulista in midJanuary 2023,” he emphasizes.
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In just over a year, there have been around 13 exhibitions and several invitations that Lafaiete Papaiano has had, and he even has proposals to exhibit in New York City and Lisbon during the next year 2024.
Artistic lunges in the Sao Paulo Metro Papaiano’s photographic works gained greater popularity recently with his exhibition in the subway stations in Sao Paulo, where more than a million people appreciated his works on the strips, in 30 days.
During this exhibition, 40 photographs were exhibited in two high-traffic stations, such as Paulista Avenue and Santo Amaro Station in the south of the city. “In all the exhibitions that I have done, my only intention has always been to show what I feel and what I see about the subject exposed,” said Papaiano. The success that Lafaiete has achieved has been possible, thanks to the support he has received from Galeria VerArte, Estudio Sciacco and PG&MP Inversiones, in addition to the Brazilian Fencing Confederation, who from the beginning opened the doors for him to carry out his work during the tournaments.
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Lidya Behind The Mask / Lidya Fabry (USA)
dals: one in veteran women’s sabre, one in veteran women’s foil and one in the “dif two” event in saber. I only fenced for a few years when I first started, because of divorce and moved, that had me taking time away from fencing altogether. Then, after about seven years break I decided to return to fencing.
Fabry
TW: Did you practice any other sports before fencing?
Name: Lidya Fabri Place of birth: USA Year of birth: 1959 Club: Avant Garde de esgrima
LF: I had a lot of experience in some martial arts, before starting fencing.
in Los Angeles, California Weapon: Sabre
TW: What were your greatest achievements in fencing? LF: Since coming back, I’ve made 9 veteran’s world fencing teams, and brought back several medals, including three gold medals from my individual events and also 4 gold medals for team events.
TW: At what age did you start fencing and what motivated you to take up this sport? LF: I found fencing through my daughter who discovered this sport in her high school. I was in my 40s, and one of the only parents who stayed to watch their kids during practice. Her coach invited me to join since we were all about the same height, so I began by learning and practicing foil with them. TW: Tell us about your journey in fencing over the years. LF: In my early years in fencing, in 2002, I took on three silver me-
TW: What made you persevere to be the fencer you are today? LF: Some may think that the medals are what keep me coming back, but it is really the sport of fencing itself that has brought me such joy, well-being and keeps me in shape. TW: What do you like most about fencing and what inspires you to continue practicing it? LF: I’ve been fortunate to meet such interesting , smart and awesome people. I have learned so much from many of these fencers. Jane Eyre, continues to be one of my idols in fencing. Then there’s Jerry Butilio, we both basically
Each assault is a new chapter of learning for life. 36
learned the sport without a coach, we shared our philosophies, I would even call him my coach. TW: What lessons or good things has fencing left in your life? LF: There are lot of life lessons that can come from learning and competing in fencing. I think that is what I love most about the sport, that there is constantly something that can be compared to in life and always something to be learning. TW: What satisfaction has fencing given you? LF: I remember feeling it in 2015, my first world gold medal. TW: What other things do you do besides fencing? LF: I do other things, that keep me active and in shape too, like Pickleball and Tai Chi at the moment and I have quiet times in the garden, where I grow herbs and vegetables since COVID, and reading all kinds of good books, mostly science, sports, medicine and mental health, that kind of thing. TW: How many hours do you train a day? LF: As for practices and workouts, I try to fence at least two to three times a week, I go to the open club and spend two or three hours on the floor.
TW: How do you combine your personal life with fencing? LF: I recently decided to go into retirement status, after running a successful home based business for the last 17 years as a digital marketer. So now I’m using this year to figure out how my retirement status affects my time in activities and schedule. I hope to start traveling more, and as long as my body holds up too, fencing will be at the top of the list. TW: How do you prepare before a competition? LF: I think one of the hardest things in competitions, for me, is to make sure my mental game is working well too. I’m constantly working on how to focus and train my brain. I use breathing techniques, words, visuals to remind myself when it is time to focus. TW: What has been the most difficult moment of your life? LF: A tough time was 2020, when everyone was struggling with COVID, which I know was a mental strain for so many. I also had the added issue of losing my son to an overdose. He’d been struggling with addiction issues for many years, and his passing really affected me emotionally and physically. TW: How do you recover from defeat? LF: After a fencing event, no matter where I finish, I try to come back home
with one thing I did well and one thing I need to work on. I also review what tools I used during the competition, to determine if I need to use the tools I know differently and if I need to add any new ones to my toolbox. TW: What do you think about when you’re in combat? LF: At world events, I try to stay focused the entire time, even though it can even be exhausting, it can be very well worth it. Then I tell myself that tomorrow I can be tired and relax, but not today. TW: What would you say to people who don’t know much about this sport? LF: Even though it can sometimes feel like fencing is work, it is a great sport for all ages and all types, whether competitive or not. Whenever I see parents watching their kids, I tell them they should at least give it a try. It is also really helpful for parents or even partners of fencers to try the sport so that they know better what is happening. TW: What would you say to people who want to start fencing at an older age? LF: They should give it a go. I started in my 40s, and I’m still involved now in my 60s and hope to go into my 70s and 80s (laughs). Some I’ve heard started even older than I did and have done very well.
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Technology in Fencing
sports justice technology
that can save lives Today’s world is in constant movement and evolution, as time goes by, the use of new technologies becomes more important, especially in sports spaces, where the levels of competition are higher every day and for one move or decision, the scale can lean to one competitor or another. Therefore, currently the use of virtual assistants or video referees is becoming increasingly important and common in different sports. This was seen almost 20 years ago by Carlos Pineda, an engineer and former Venezuelan high-performance fencer, who was one of the pioneers in the use of the video refereeing system in fencing and who currently runs a company that is not only dedicated to virtual assistance of the judges, but also to the transmissions and capture of movements for technical analysis, in order to make a study of the athletes which can help them improve their performance in the future. Pineda started in these areas together with other engineers with the “Atlas” project, which was the first video assistant system approved by the Spanish Fencing Federation and the second by the International Fencing Federation (FIE), to be used in official world competitions. “When I realized that coaches and large federations were using this to perform video analysis, I decided that I would like to do something that can democratize this type of technology so that it is accessible to everyone,” Pineda told Touché World. “Then, I left to Dublin (Ireland) to develop this new project, using new software technologies, artificial intelligence, developing a patent based on motion analysis, which not only in-
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volved fencing but also that it can be used in any other sport”. Then in 2018 the name of the company ST 37 was chosen, which has the capacity to work with this technology in 37 different Olympic sports. “Then we moved to France, because it will be hosting the next Olympic Games, there we received a lot of support from their government for the development of our technology and little by little we have been moving forward. In 2022, the company acquired the Endgarde software, one of the most used in the world of fencing, with this and thanks to its technology access is provided to more than 150 competitions every weekend worldwide, up to more than 1.000.000 people have connected on the different ST 37 platforms during the last year. The engineer affirms that his Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is gaining more space in all sports areas “with it we can detect the athlete and the sporting action with robotic cameras, which allows human error to be greatly reduced by only having a few operators since the system works almost automatically.” This AI allows the system to precisely follow athletes according to the form of their movement. Even in sports such as fencing, the system is so advanced that it can recognize sporting action and work as a kind of virtual referee. “it cannot function purely as a judge, but it can be a great assistant for complex situations, for example, in modalities such as saber, it can identify quick actions such as who takes out the hand first or who takes out the foot, priorities in attack that are actions very fast to the human eye and with this powerful
AI it can help the referee make the right decision. The response time of this program is one second after the action ends, which makes decision-making faster and makes the sporting action run more fluidly and no time is wasted. This system patented by ST 37 is called Skauting.com where anyone by simply registering and paying the fee of the service can access all its functions, not only for fencing, but for multiple sports. ST 37’s technology has already reached multi-sport events such as the recent Santiago 2023 Pan American Games, where its cameras were placed in disciplines such as basketball, water polo, synchronized swimming, among others. The company’s goal is to continue growing in sports branches and in a few years to be able to work with the 37 disciplines of the Olympic cycle.
A technology that can save lives Currently ST 37 is working hand in hand with the French government to adjust this technology to the industrial world, in jobs that may represent risk to humans such as in the construction area, for example. Pineda states that the system, through its different cameras, can be programmed to report possible risk situations and prevent accidents, such as indicating to the worker that their safety equipment is not properly put on, or if they are executing an action incorrectly and this could trigger an unwanted event, among others. It is a system that is still in a trial period, but it is expected that in a few years it will be on the business market and can help the work quality of its users.
To everyone at Columbus Club, may this Christmas be a time of unity and prosperity for the entire fencing community! Thank you for your commitment and passion!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Pedro Gascón Behind the Mask / Pedro Gascón (ESP)
Name: Pedro Gascón Blanco. Nickname: León. Place of birth: España. Date of birth: 01/03/1970 Club: Club de Esgrima Madrid (CEM) Weight: 85 kg. Height: 1,90 mts. Weapon: Sabre. Orientation: Left-handed.
PGB: Fencing has been of great value in my life because it has been very useful, both on a personal level and in terms of growth, appreciation, and camaraderie. So, I value these 14 years in fencing very, very positively. TW: What do you think have been your greatest achievements in fencing? PGB: Being the champion of Spain. Also being the individual European champion three times and twice as a Team Champion. In addition, rank thirteenth in the last World Veterans Championship in 2023. TW: What made you persevere and become the fencer you are today?
TW: How did you start fencing and at what age? PGB: I started when I was 39, after taking my two children to practice and seeing what this whole sport was like. While there, at the Madrid Fencing Club, I signed up and I liked fencing practice. TW: What motivated you to take up fencing? PGB: I definitely think the motivation was my children, who I watched training and decided to do fencing because of them. I liked it so much that they didn’t continue fencing and I’m here -Laughing-. TW: How do you define these years in fencing?
PGB: First, I think the support I have had from the club, coaches, and teammates. I also like to compete, improve myself and win. TW: What are you most passionate about fencing? PGB: I am passionate about the moment when you connect and put yourself in front of a rival, that later, you shake his hand and become friends. TW: What have you learned from fencing? PGB: Respect for others, respect for the opponent, and that even though you are in combat against another person, there is always group friendship. TW: What satisfaction has fencing given you?
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PGB: Many personal satisfactions at the level of the different championships that I have won, in addition to the trips, cities and countries that I have been able to know through fencing. Another great satisfaction has been my partner since I have met her through fencing. TW: Besides fencing, what other activities do you do? PGB: In sports, I do diving and scuba diving. At work I am dedicated to electrical installations and building renovations. TW: How often do you train? PGB: Currently I train about two hours a day on Tuesdays and Thursdays and some Saturdays. TW: How do you combine your personal life with your sports life? PGB: I am lucky not to have a work schedule, so fortunately I can decide when to work and train. I usually work until 2:00 in the afternoon, then I go training, and then continue working later. TW: How do you prepare yourself before a competition? PGB: My partner is a fencer and a Physical Education teacher, so she helps me a lot in preparing me both physically and mentally. She gets me
into the assault and is behind me on the strip.
Those have been very exciting moments that I have enjoyed a lot.
TW: Do you follow any diet in preparation?
TW: Any coach or coaches that have influenced your sporting life?
PGB: No, I do not do any diet before or during the competition. I try not to have anything in my stomach. And I even drink little in competitions.
PGB: They have been two very special coaches. Coach José Luis Ochotorena with whom I started practicing and Miriam Ruiz Carrión, who is currently my main coach.
TW: What do you think could be the key of success at the veteran level? PGB: The key is to have fun. Enjoy what you are doing. TW: Do you have any anecdotes during a competition that you always remember? PGB: I’m not one of those people who gets upset when someone hits me hard, but there was one time when I was bothered by being hit unnecessarily, and I didn’t react well -laughing-. Then I ended up becoming great friends with this person. TW: What do you consider to be your most exciting moment in fencing? PGB: A very special moment has been winning the 2021 European Veteran Championship in Teams and the third place that I achieved in 2023 in the individual event of the European Championship.
TW: How do you recover from defeat? PGB: It bothers me when I lose and shoot badly, but if I did well,defeat hurts less, however, when I go to bed, everything turns in my head thinking about what I have done wrong. Then I get up to make adjustments. TW: What benefits does fencing have at the veteran level? PGB: It is a sport that allows you to stay in shape and also allows you to interact with other people that at our age is very good because it makes you feel happy. TW: What is your biggest dream as an athlete right now? PGB: Win a World Championship. That is my biggest dream as a fencer.
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Pan American Games 2023
Pan American Games in Montevideo 2023
The United States reigned in the Pan American Games in Montevide The Pan American Children’s and Veteran Championships held in Montevideo, Uruguay, proved to be one of the most even events in terms of the veteran category, where the United States managed to win by a difference of one gold medal over its closest pursuer.
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The North American delegation won six gold medals out of the 18 possible, surpassing the five from Brazil and the four from Argentina, completing the podium. Fencers from Bermuda, Mexico and El Salvador won the three remaining golds. Valery Asher was the beacon of triumph for the American delegation by achieving a hat-trick of gold medals. Asher accomplished a great performance by winning all three branches of Épée (pre-veterans, vete-
ran 1 and veteran 2). The other three golds for the Americans went to Mahmoud Elbakry (veteran men’s presaber), Chris Dahl (veterans 2 men’s saber) and Jenny Yang (veterans 1 women’s saber). In total, the “Stars and Stripes” delegation added 20 metals, where on top of the six gold medals they also added six silver medals and eight bronze.
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Covani and Ruthfeld standing for South America
Reyes, Junco and Treanor were the lone horses.
Several fencers managed to win multiple medals, but the spotlight at the men’s level went to the Argentine Carlos Covani, who won three gold medals and one silver, being the most successful fencer in the entire competition. The also president of the Argentine Veteran Fencers Commission achieved victory on the Veterans Foil 1, pre-veteran épée and pre-veteran saber, while he won silver in the pre-veteran foil.
Only three athletes managed to overcome the dominance of Brazil, Argentina and the United States trio during this competition and they were the Salvadoran María Reyes, the Mexican Carlos Junco and the Bermudian Donald Treanor.
Brazilian Silvia Rothfeld looked dominant in all her competitions, winning three gold medals. The Amazonian won pre-veteran and veteran 1 foil, as well as veteran 1 saber.
Reyes had a very good performance during the Pan-American event, closing with two medals, including her victory in the veteran women’s foil category. In the pre-veteran category of the same weapon, she fell in the final against the Brazilian Silvia Rothfeld and finished with the silver medal. Carlos Junco got the only medal for Mexico in the championship by win-
ning gold in the pre-veteran men’s foil, defeating the Argentine Carlos Covani in the final with a score of 106, preventing the gaucho from being the only athlete in the entire championship to win four gold medals. The Bermuda archipelago obtained its only precious metal in the championship after the triumph of Donald Treanor in the men’s foil (veterans 2), defeating the American Adam Buchwald in the final with a score of 10-4. The competition brought together more than 120 athletes from all delegations who met in the Uruguayan capital to give an exhibition of good fencing and take advantage of sharing experience with the future of the sport.
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Medallist Pan American 2023
Medallist in the Pan American
Veterans Championship 2023 Veterans 1 Male’s Saber
Veterans 2 Women’s Foil
Pre-Veterans Men’s Foil
Pre-Veterans Women’s Épée
Pre-Veterans Men’s Saber
Pre-veteranos Women’s Foil
Veterans 2 Men’s Sabre
Veterans 1 Women’s Foil
Veterans 1 Men’s Foil
Veterans 2 Women’s Épée
Veterans 2 Men’s Épée
Veterans 1 Women’s Sabre
Pre-Veterans Men’s Épée
Pre-Veterans Women’s Sabre
Veterans 1 Men’s Épée
Veterans 2 Women’s Sabre
Veterans 1 Women’s Épée
Veterans 2 Men’s Foil
Ricardo Rodríguez Ramón Román David Nemazie Bernardo Bochiarello
Valerie Asher María De Armas Carolina Moreira Michele Bardus
Chris Dahl Blair Ray Vincent Paragamo Donald Treanor
Valerie Asher Claudia Costa Charlotta Bowie Virgine Vermeersh
Carlos Covani Andrés Poletto Koiti Yamashita Daniel Olivera
Jenny Yang Naomi Dahl Esperanza Alzona Deane Dede
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María Reyes Esperanza Alzona Sharone Huey Rachel El Saleh
Mahmoud Elbakry Rodrigi Baldin Chris Dhal Jhonnja Centeno
Silvia Rothfeld Esperanza Alzona Silvina Bierwerth Sharone Huey
Alberto Soiza Bela Suveg Daniel Aguayo Aníbal Calcagno
Luciana Peluso Naomi Dahl Jamie Wilemse Patricia Sauan
Valerie Asher Cristina Ribera Laura Mangiaterra Virgine Vermeersh
Carlos Junco Carlos Covani Fabián Sales Rolando Balboa
Silvia Rothfeld María Reyes Carola Federico María Gwynn
Carlos Covani Fabián Sales Néstor Grajales Daniel Berke
Silvia Rothfeld Jamie Wilense Patricia Di Counto Jenny Yang
Carlos Covani Valentín Alitisz Guilherme García Daniel Olivera
Donald Treanor Alan Buchwald Fernando Lupiz Guillermo Blanco
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Food:
The complement to achieve the highest sporting performance It is true that training is the essence of the athlete’s development, accompanying it with good nutrition, it is the ideal complement to achieve the highest sporting performance. Establishing a healthy diet as a complement to training allows the athlete to enjoy various benefits, such as the proportion of energy required, which in turn delays the onset of fatigue.
How to establish a good diet? For Sports Nutritionist, Ivett Khawan, there are different factors that are important to know when calculating a person’s diet, especially athletes. “Age, gender, body composition, the sport you practice, days and hours you spend training, among other aspects.” In the case of veteran category athletes, the diet must contain a sufficient amount of protein, this is because during the aging process, muscle mass is normally lost, so it is recommended to have an average intake of 1.5 and 2.2 grams of protein for each kilogram of body weight. Always considering that they should avoid consuming excess fats and carbohydrates, as well as control sweets, soda, alcohol and sodium.”
she recommends always including it in meals before training, “It can be rice, pasta, plantain, potato, cassava or fruit.” It is suggested to have an intake of carbohydrate food between 2 and 3 hours before training or competition and the recommended amount is 3 to 7 grams per kilogram of body weight, while one hour before, it is recommended to consume a portion of some fruit. For fencers, who usually have long days during competitions, Khawan suggests eating fruit or using supplements containing a sufficient portion of carbohydrates. Likewise, for the Sports Nutritionist, having an adequate diet after competitions is vital to replenish the energy invested. “The diet should contain enough protein and carbohydrates and little fat because it slows down the absorption of food.” Regarding carbohydrates, the consumption between 3 and 7 grams per kilogram of body weight is recommended, while for protein the suggested amount is between 1.5 grams per kilogram of body weight.
What can you eat? According to the specialist, carbohydrates are the fuel of every athlete, so
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Dear friends of Absolute Fencing Gear, may this Christmas be full of fencing and exciting moments for all lovers of this sport! Thank you for providing the best equipment!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
To the Valkyrie Fencing Club, may this Christmas be a time of unity, where the achievements on the fencing strip are reflected within our great fencing family. We are grateful for being a beacon of inspiration and knowledge in the world of fencing.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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