EDITOR’S NOTE

As we move into the 20222023 fencing season, we’ve had a lot of time to reflect. The downtime we’ve all experienced in the past few years has changed us both as individuals and as an organization. I’m not just referring to COVID-19 protocols; I’m also addressing where we as USA Fencing stand as a veritable tour de force in sports.

Fencing is strong, both nationally and internationally. We’re one of the few sports to have endured more than a century of ongoing events and competition as one of the original six Olympic events when the modern Games began in 1896. We have endured war, depression and pandemic and always prevailed. The old adage of “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” comes to mind.

With the worst part of the pandemic behind us (hopefully!), where are we? Our clubs are thriving, our fencers are eagerly entering domestic and international competitions, our leadership is fresh and strong. We stand as one of the most powerful fencing nations in the world on many levels. Once again, we’ve made it through tribulation together and come out of it with a shiny luster.

This year’s Summer Nationals and July Challenge, with its 95 events and thousands of participants, was a milestone in this emergence from a very difficult couple of years, and you’ll see that in this issue’s cover story. The largest fencing tournament in the world was, almost by any regard, a perfect event, followed by our strong overall performance at the Cairo Fencing World Championships.

Our new leaders and staff at the National Office are bringing innovation, perspective and objectivity to fencing in a manner promising to take us to that next proverbial level. They are here to serve our members, grow and extend the fencing brand identity and leverage our strength domestically and globally. Now it’s time to really get to work. With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games two short years away, there’s a lot to do to in training, competition and the development of role models as our younger fencers move up. We have rising stars with the promise of many years, medals and events, and their performances and images are an inspirational beacon to us all.

Paris 2024 continues the Olympic trend to bring in new sports and evaluate existing ones. There will be the emerging events we saw in Tokyo last year, such as surfing and skateboarding, as well as first-time competitions such as break dancing (officially known as “breaking”). How do we stay innovative, relevant and exciting to world audiences amidst these newcomers?

For fencing, it begins at the club level. It starts by helping kids get excited about fencing, understanding its history while embracing its future and the sheer excitement of being involved. Fencing as a lifetime sport, as well, extends our reach far beyond many sports — you’re not likely to see a Vet 70 event in skateboarding or breaking any time soon. Our national office is here to support you and your clubs, to do anything in its power to help reach out to communities, welcome newcomers and provide the resources needed to build fencing at all levels.

We have an exciting year ahead with many local, regional, national and world events. We’re strong, well-staffed and able to listen and respond. Our new CEO, Phil Andrews, is in place to lead with our board and national staff from a crisp, new perspective as they help us evolve into the future, and I hope you’ll join me supporting his success.

It’s going to be an exciting couple of years. We’ve got traction, we have momentum, we have everything we need to perform as never before. Let’s make it happen!

Serge Timacheff Editor, American Fencing Magazine

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