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            A new world

            Wheelchair Fencing

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            Choose your weapon: épée, foil or sabre? Part of the Paralympic Games since Rome 1960, the first edition, wheelchair fencing comes to Rio 2016 with 14 medal events for individuals and teams.
            Spectator's Guide - Wheelchair Fencing
            • Wheelchair Fencing

            About

            About

            Aim of the game

            Two rival fencers try to strike the target area on each other's body using a long, blunt-tipped blade

            Why should you watch this?

            These days this is the closest you can get to medieval combat, and you cannot fail to be impressed by the speed of the fencers' movements in this dynamic and challenging sport

            International Federation

            IWASF

            Paralympic debut

            Rome 1960

            Rules
            • En Garde!

              En Garde!

              The starting position of the two opponents, blade-to-blade in the centre of the piste

            • Hand guard

              Hand guard

              A metal guard fixed between the blade and the handle, designed to protect the fencer's sword hand

            • Parry

              Parry

              A blocking and deflecting blade movement to stem the opponent's attack

            Impress your friends

            • The sport made its debut at the Stoke Mandeville Games for war veterans in England in 1955

              The sport made its debut at the Stoke Mandeville Games for war veterans in England in 1955

            • Wheelchair fencing was developed by Sir Ludwig Guttmann, the founder of the Paralympic Games

              Wheelchair fencing was developed by Sir Ludwig Guttmann, the founder of the Paralympic Games

            • At the Athens 2004 Games, Yu Chui Yee, from Hong Kong, became the first female athlete to win four gold medals at the same Games

              At the Athens 2004 Games, Yu Chui Yee, from Hong Kong, became the first female athlete to win four gold medals at the same Games

            • Brazil's dramatic Paralympic Games debut in wheelchair fencing came at London 2012, when Jovane Guissone took gold in the épée category B event

              Brazil's dramatic Paralympic Games debut in wheelchair fencing came at London 2012, when Jovane Guissone took gold in the épée category B event

            • The French athletes Christian Lachaud and Andre Hennaert hold the record for the most gold medals, with nine each

              The French athletes Christian Lachaud and Andre Hennaert hold the record for the most gold medals, with nine each

            • With 15 to his name, Italy's Roberto Marson is the athlete with the highest number of medals in the sport

              With 15 to his name, Italy's Roberto Marson is the athlete with the highest number of medals in the sport

            • In épée matches, the athletes use a metal-lined apron to protect their legs and wheelchair wheels

              In épée matches, the athletes use a metal-lined apron to protect their legs and wheelchair wheels

            • Hungary's Pal Szekeres is the only athlete to have won Olympic and Paralympic medals: bronze at Seoul 1988 and, after a bus accident, won six wheelchair fencing medals

              Hungary's Pal Szekeres is the only athlete to have won Olympic and Paralympic medals: bronze at Seoul 1988 and, after a bus accident, won six wheelchair fencing medals

            Duration

            The pool round features single bouts of three minutes, or until one of the competitors reaches five points.

            Elimination round bouts consist of three rounds, each lasting three minutes or until one of the fencers scores 15 points.

            In team matches, the winner is the team that scores 45 points first or has the most points when time ends.

            Scoring

            Each time a fencer's target area is hit, a point is scored, with the totals kept by an electronic system that automatically registers every accurate strike.

            Weapons

            Epée

            • 110cm, 770g

            • The blade is heavier and more rigid

            • Points are scored when the blade's tip touches any part of the opponent's body above the waist

            Foil

            • 110cm, 500g

            • The blade is lighter and highly flexible

            • Points are scored when the blade's tip touches the opponent from the waistline up, excluding the limbs and the head

            Sabre

            • 105cm, 500g

            • The sabre has a short, flexible blade, allowing for faster movements

            • Points are scored when the opponent is hit from the waist up with the cutting edge, the flat or the back of the blade

            Wheelchair

            The wheelchair must be fastened to rails on the piste, which is 4m long and 1.5m wide. Action is halted if the wheelchair moves.

            Protection

            The athletes must wear protective masks and gloves, and a puncture-resistant jacket.

            Stats

            Top Medalists

            Men
            ITA
            Roberto Marson             		8 5 2 15
            FRA
            Andre Hennaert             		9 1 4 14
            FRA
            Christian Lachaud             		9 2 2 13
            Women
            FRA
            Patricia Picot             		4 2 4 10
            HKG
            Chui Yee Yu             		7 1 1 9
            FRA
            Josette Bourgain             		5 3 0 8

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