ACOG - Fencing - IBM

Who to Watch in Fencing

Historically, France has dominated fencing and proven its status in recent years. At the 1992 Games in Barcelona, France won four individual medals in three events and the French team captured a bronze medal in the sabre event. Having won the most total medals with 97, France also has two more gold medals (36) than Italy, its fiercest competition.

Men's Preview

Foil

With all three 1992 medalists in the foil event returning to the Olympic Games, the competition will remain strong. Philippee OMNES of France won the gold medal in 1992 but it's Elvis GREGORY of Cuba, the '92 bronze medalist who has become the strongest. Since the 1992 Games, GREGORY placed fifth at the 1994 World Championships and third at the 1995 World Championships. Searching for his first Olympic gold, Sergey GOLOUBITSKI of Ukraine, the 1992 silver medalist, has won more World Cups in the past 10 years than any other foil fencer.

The 1995 World Champion in the foil, Dmitry CHEVTCHENOKO of Russia, could help his team into medal contention. Also watch for the Italians with Olympic medalist Stefano CERIONI along with teammate Alessandro PUCCINI vying for the Olympic gold. However, it's the 1995 World Champion Cuba that may prove to be strongest with Rolando Leon TUCKERS bringing his experience from the World Championships.

Epée

As with the men's foil event, all three 1992 medalists in the épée return for Olympic competition. Eric SRECKI of France, the gold medalist, won the 1995 World Championship although silver medalist Pavel KOLOBKOV of Russia won in 1993 and 1994. Bronze medalist Jean-Michel Henry of France has seemed to struggle in recent years, not finishing in the top eight at the 1995 World Championships.

Sabre

At the peak of his career, four-time world champion Grigori KIRIENKO of Russia faces 1992 Olympic gold medalist Bence SZABO of Hungary in the men's sabre event. KIRIENKO won the world championship in 1989, 1991, 1993 and 1995, yet has failed to win an Olympic medal. Winning more World Cup titles in the last two seasons than any other sabre fencer, Stanislaw POZDNIAKOV of Russia could add pressure to the rest of the field. Although Russia as the Unified Team won the gold medal in 1992 and is the favorite to win in 1996, it faltered in close competitions during the 1972 and 1988 Olympic Games as well as at the 1995 World Championships.

Women's Preview

Since this Olympic Games is the first for the épée events for women, all the previous women's medals were in the foil. The Hungarian women dominated that weapon winning 16 total medals, five of them gold, which tied them with the former Soviet Union. France displayed its best performance during the 1980 Games when it won the team foil event.

Foil

Ranked first in the world, Giovanna TRILLINI of Italy returns to defend her Olympic gold medal in the women's foil. Bronze medalist Tatiani SADOVSKAIA of Russia has not competed well in recent years and enters the 1996 Olympic Games ranked just 65th in the world. Romania has produced some top-ranked fencers recently as 1995 World Champion Laura BADEA and 1994 World Champion Reka SZABO-LAZAR both entire the Olympic Games.

For the foil team competition, the United States women's team searches for its first medal during the 1996 Olympic Games after being ranked first in the World Cup team rankings in March. Looking for its first gold medal since 1976, Russia, ranked second, competes against the world-ranked powerhouses Romania and France.

Epée

In the first Olympic competition, the women's épée event will feature the 1992 World épée champions. Marianne HORVATH of Hungary competes along with 1995 World Championship silver medalist Gyongyi SZALAY. However, it's the 1995 World Champion Joanna JAKIMIUK of Poland who may surprise the same fencers during the Olympic Games. Her win came as a surprise to many as JAKIMIUK wasn't even ranked in the top 40 before the competition.

Having won four of the last five World Championships, Hungary's women's épée team is expected to fair well during the 1996 Olympic Games. Also expected to do well, France and Italy have both faired well during the 1993, 1994 and 1995 World Championships, finishing in the top eight in each of those competitions.

This is an official publication of The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Dianna Drayson and Jennifer Knight.


Olympic Factoid
An estimated 5.3 million visted Centennial Olympic Park between opening day - 13 July - and closing day - 4 August, making the park the most single most visited Olympic site during the Games.