(25 July 1996; Day 6)
From beginning to end, the men's fencing competition at the Centennial Olympic Games had a distinctively Russian flair to it. The Russian Federation closed the competition Thursday where it had begun Saturday: winning a gold medal. The Russians won four of the six gold medals (plus two silvers for good measure) awarded on the men's side, reconfirming their place as a world power in fencing circles, regardless of which flag is raised at the medal ceremonies.
"There are two reasons why we have been so good," double sabre gold medalist Stanislav POZDNYAKOV said. "First we have an old fencing tradition and then we have been working very, very hard."
At Barcelona four years ago, the Russians -- then competing under the banner of the Unified Team -- managed only a team foil gold, in addition to one silver and one bronze medal. In Atlanta, POZDNYAKOV and epee specialist Aleksandr BEKETOV each earned two golds, while Sergey SHARIKOV earned a individual gold and a team silver.
But the team was in the midst of transition, affected by the social, political and economic turmoil taking place in the former Soviet Union. Now competing under the Russian flag and under new federation leadership, the Russians made a strong showing at last year's World Championships and then dominated the field in Atlanta.
"Since Barcelona, we have new leadership and the new leadership is much better," said long-time Russian coach Mark Midler.
The team is young enough to remain a factor on the international scene well into the next century. Double gold medalist BEKETOV is just 22, as is SHARIKOV. Vladislav PAVLOVICH, who led the effort Thursday, competing in his first Olympic Gamess at age 25.
"I can't be sure if the same athletes will be here, but if the athletes have goals to stay in the sport, they will be on the team," Midler said. "But changes in athletics are routine."
Whatever the future may hold, the Centennial Olympic Games sent a loud and clear message to the fencing world: The Russians are back!
This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Mark Vinson.
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| More tickets were sold to the competitions of the 1996 Games than to any other Olympic Games or sports event in history. The 8.6 million ticket sales figures topped sales to the Los Angeles and Barcelona Games combined. |