Fencing: A Modern Sport


The sport of fencing is fast and athletic, a far cry from the choreographed bouts you see on film or on the stage. Instead of swinging from a chandelier or leaping from balconies, you will see two fencers performing an intense dance on a 6-feet by 44-feet strip. The movement is so fast the touches are scored electrically – a lot more like Star Wars than Errol Flynn.

The World Championships, held annually except in the year of the Olympic Games, is the competition concluding a full year of World Cup competitions. Fencers are seeded on the basis of rankings earned on the World Cup circuit over the season.

This year’s team has significant depth and experience. Twelve of the 24 athletes competing are Olympic veterans, including 2004 Olympic women’s saber gold medalist Mariel Zagunis (22, Beaverton, Ore.) and 2004 Olympic bronze medalist Sada Jacobson

Last Updated: May 29, 2008
By: Eric Quevedo & Tyler Felver & Jay Chen