Fencing Special: medieval combat in the 21st century
The specific features of fencing weapons, information about athletes and an overview of the sport in Brazil and across the world are the topics of November’s special feature
Athletes duel on the opening day of competitions at the London 2012 Games (Getty Images/Hannah Johnston)
A part of the Olympic Games’ sports programme since the first edition in 1896, fencing will also take place in the land of samba. The topic of November’s special feature on rio2016.com, fencing is one of the Games’ five combat sports, alongside boxing, judo, wrestling and taekwondo. It uses three different types of weapon: the épée, foil and sabre, representing the ancient weapons used before the advent of firearms.
Starting this Tuesday, visitors to rio2016.com will find out that each weapon has its own rules, scoring zone and form of touching. You will discover striking facts marking the history of fencing in the Olympic Games, information about wheelchair fencing in the Paralympic Games, and an overview of the sport in Brazil and across the world.
Here is the week’s schedule:
Tuesday 26th – Foil, sabre or épée? The specific characteristics of weapons dictate the rules of fencing
Wednesday 27th – Brazilian's golden debut in wheelchair fencing at London 2012 inspires compatriots
Thursday 28th – How Venezuela won South America's first Olympic fencing gold medal
Friday 29th – Brazilian fencers pin their hopes on Rio 2016 to popularise the sport in the country
Want to find out more about other sports? See the topics already covered by previous editions of our special features: athletics, badminton, basketball, wheelchair basketball, boxing, boccia, goalball, judo, wrestling, swimming, paracanoe, modern pentathlon, rugby, taekwondo, shooting, triathlon, sailing, volleyball, beach volleyball, handball, golf, football, tennis, cycling and archery .
