Fencing is one of the oldest sports disciplines, with origins dating back to ancient civilizations. The earliest evidence of fencing can be found in Egypt and Ancient Greece, where warriors honed their skills with swords. Today we’re going to go beyond the sport’s roots – you’re going to meet the biggest names in fencing today!
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Stay until the end to meet the biggest names in fencing today!
Biggest names in Fencing today: historical context
Fencing is one of the oldest sports, with roots dating back to ancient civilizations.
The first evidence of fencing comes from Egypt and Ancient Greece, where warriors trained with swords;
However, modern fencing began to take shape in Europe during the Renaissance. In Italy and Spain in the 15th and 16th centuries, fencing developed into a martial art and a prestigious sport;
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Fencing manuals were written and schools were established to teach sword fighting techniques.
In the 18th century, France became the center of modern fencing, developing rules and equipment that formed the basis of today’s sport;
It was during this period that the three weapons used in competitive fencing emerged: the foil, the sword and the saber;
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Fencing made its debut at the Olympic Games in 1896 and has been one of the few sports to feature in every edition of the Games since then.
Biggest names in Fencing today: rules of the sport
Modern fencing is practiced with three types of weapons: foil, sword and sabre, each with its own rules and characteristics:
- Blade: a light and flexible weapon. Only touches with the tip of the blade are valid and only the torso (excluding arms and head) is a valid scoring area.
- Sword: the heaviest weapon. Similar to the foil, only touches with the tip are valid, but the entire surface of the body is a scoring area.
- Sabre: a lighter weapon that allows cuts with the blade. Both touches with the tip and blows with the blade are valid, and the scoring area includes the torso, head and arms.
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The fencing competitions are held on tracks 14 meters long and 2 meters wide;
Fights are divided into three three-minute periods and the winner is the first to reach 15 points or whoever has the most points at the end of regulation time.
Biggest names in Fencing today (male, world)
Aron Szilagyi (Hungary)
A sabre specialist, Szilagyi is a three-time Olympic champion, having won gold at London 2012, Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
Gerek Meinhardt (USA)
One of the leading names in foil, Meinhardt has won several world and Olympic titles in his career.
Romain Cannone (France)
Current Olympic champion in the sword, winning gold at Tokyo 2020.
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Biggest names in Fencing today (female, world)
Inna Deriglazova (Russia)
One of the world’s best flower girls, Deriglazova is an Olympic champion and multiple world champion.
Ana Maria Popescu (Romania)
A sword specialist, Popescu has enjoyed a long and successful career, including Olympic medals and world titles.
Olga Kharlan (Ukraine)
Dominant in sabre, Kharlan is one of the most decorated fencers, with multiple world and Olympic titles.
Stay until the end to meet the biggest names in fencing today!
Biggest names in Fencing today (male, Brazil)
Guilherme Toldo
One of the leading names in Brazilian fencing, Toldo has represented Brazil in several international competitions, including the Olympic Games.
Biggest names in fencing today (female, Brazil)
Nathalie Moellhausen
World champion in the sword in 2019, Moellhausen is one of Brazil’s most talented fencers, with a distinguished international career.
Bia Bulcão
A standout in the foil, Bia has represented Brazil in several international competitions, including the Olympic Games.
Which athletes have a chance of medaling in Paris 2024?
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, several fencing athletes have a great chance of winning medals;
Among the men, Enzo Lefort of France is one of the favorites. Lefort, who will be competing in his fourth Olympics, is aiming to win gold medals in both the individual and team events.
On the women’s side, France’s hopes lie with Manon Apithy-Brunet and Cécilia Berder, who are saber standouts and have shown strong performances in recent competitions.
Representing the United States, Lee Kiefer and Gerek Meinhardt are names to watch. Kiefer, who already has an Olympic gold medal, is looking to repeat the feat in Paris, while Meinhardt, in his fifth Olympic appearance, is also aiming for the podium.
These athletes, with their successful careers and experience in international competitions, will certainly be among the main contenders for medals in Paris 2024.
What did you think of meeting the biggest names in fencing today? Enjoy learning more about the sport!
