Such small tactics must be used to a fencer's greatest advantage in elite-level competition. Fencing left-handed, for example, gave Edoardo MANGIAROTTI (ITA) enough of an edge to win 13 medals, though he was naturally right-handed. His father had forced him to fight with his left hand from an early age for that very reason. A left-handed person fighting against a right-handed opponent requires a different strategy and exposes a smaller target area.
Each time a fencer scores a touch in that target area, he or she receives a point. A winner is declared during an individual bout after 15 points are scored or the pair has reached the end of the third 3-minute round. Advancing through the brackets in the direct elimination competition, the top four athletes fence down into the finals. When scoring points, the referee will stop the bout and decide whether to award a point whenever a hit is made.
Although complex, the action of fencing falls into two categories either offense or defense. The four basic moves that are utilized in fencing include: attack beginning an offensive action; parry blocking an attack; riposte returning action after a parry; and counterattack attacking an opponent who has attacked.
In the team competition, 12 teams composed of three members each fence down to two teams for the finals. The team competition is direct elimination using the relay format where the points from each individual are added to accumulate a total score. The team bouts between members of different teams go to five touches or 4 minutes. They're done in a relay format with the team that first reaches 45 touches or accrues the greatest number of touches within 36 minutes declared the winner. Teams are seeded based upon the final World Cup standings of the individual team members.
Although it seems like a dangerous sport, fencing is actually safe with the use of proper equipment. The uniforms are made of the same material used in bulletproof vests, called Kevlar®. The basic uniform consists of a protective jacket, the pants (often referred to as knickers) and the mask. The uniforms have been traditionally white since the days when ink from the swords' tips would prove a hit instead of the electronic system used today. Cheaters discovered that dipping their uniforms in vinegar would keep the ink from showing.
The conventional mask made of mesh wire obstructs the fencer's view by approximately 50 percent. For the first time, a transparent mask made with Lexan will provide both the spectator and fencer with greater visibility. This new shatterproof shield allows for 100 percent visibility and allows the spectator to observe and watch the emotional and psychological involvement of the fencer. Time will tell if this eliminates the tradition of beginning a bout with the mask off in order to identify an opponent.
Electrical Flashing
Each fencer's weapon is connected to electronic scoring equipment and hits are indicated with scoring lights. Wires run from the weapon into the uniform and then to reels at either end of the strip.
Red and green lights, one for each side indicate that a point or blade landed in a valid target area, scoring a point for the fencer making the hit. A white light, used occasionally in foil, indicates that the point landed outside of the valid target area.
If valid lights come on for both fencers, a referee must decide who gets the "right-of-way" awarded the first fencer to begin a forward motion with the blade arm extended. This determines which fencer receives the point. In épée, a point is awarded to both sides.
Boundaries
The strip or piste is 14 meters long and 2 meters wide. It is also wired to the scoring box. If a fencer steps off the end of the strip, his or her opponent is awarded a point. Stepping off horizontally results in repositioning the offender loses a meter from the action's center.
Three weapons are used in Olympic fencing competition foil, épée and sabre. All swords are considered point-thrusting weapons although the sabre, with its flat blade, is known as a cutting weapon as well. Each weapon has a slightly different history, target area and rules. The foil and sabre were developed more as training weapons, while épée is a descendant of weapons used in duels. The target areas differ for the three weapons, but all three are scored electronically to keep up with the fast pace.
Epée
The descendant of the dueling sword, the épée is similar in length to the foil but weighs approximately 27 ounces as the heaviest of the three weapons. As the sword was used in dueling, the blade is much thicker and fluted, which allowed the blood to drain away from stabbing wounds. The larger guard (the curved, circular metal between blade and hilt) helps protect the hand from a valid hit since the entire body is a valid target area. Touches are scored only with the point of the stiff, triangular blade. In keeping with dueling tradition, épée does not use the right-of-way rule.
Foil
The foil has a flexible, rectangular blade that is approximately 1 yard in length. Weighing just more than a pound, the foil has a small, spring-loaded tip attached to a wire inside the blade that scores touches. Points are scored with the tip of the blade and must land on the torso of the body.
Sabre
Known as the modern version of the slashing cavalry sword, the sabre is similar in length and weight to the foil. With a triangular blade, the major difference is that the sabre is a point-thrusting weapon as well as a cutting weapon. The target area encompasses the entire body above the torso with a guard covering the side of the hand. This area is based on fighting during the cavalry days. Since it was unsportsmanlike to kill a cavalryman's horse, they never aimed below the waist.
This is an official publication of The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Dianna Drayson and Jennifer Knight.
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