Olympic Fencing...Seriously WTF!?!?

[leechnilk1]

That's not a sword fight! That's is a sword fight!

 

[agrant12]

I thought it was good

 

[mo mauser]

I guess it just seems to me that there should be some risk of injury, agony of defeat, or humiliation for something to be a real sport. Maybe if they had to do it with no more clothing than an MMA fighter, it would be more interesting. Again, if they got slightly electrocuted when that foil touches their suits, it would be entertaining too.

I fenced a few years so I feel compelled to defend the sport though I'm not watching the Olympics so it may very well be lame. First it is dangerous. A French fencer took a fatal broken blade to the throat about 20 years ago. I saw a female fencer have an epee penetrate her mask leaving a nasty wound from the forehead to the temple. I had a blade go through my glove, run the length of my arm until it was stopped by my pit guard. The armpit is a vulnerable area in fencing. Lastly you can lose at least 5-10 lbs of body weight due to sweating during a competition. Once wet with sweat you can and will feel a jolt of current. I had the pleasure to fence several olympians including a gold and silver medalist. You just can't appreciat the speed combined with limited visibility until they come at you at full speed.

 

[Jump211]

I fenced a few years so I feel compelled to defend the sport though I'm not watching the Olympics so it may very well be lame. First it is dangerous. A French fencer took a fatal broken blade to the throat about 20 years ago. I saw a female fencer have an epee penetrate her mask leaving a nasty wound from the forehead to the temple. I had a blade go through my glove, run the length of my arm until it was stopped by my pit guard. The armpit is a vulnerable area in fencing. Lastly you can lose at least 5-10 lbs of body weight due to sweating during a competition. Once wet with sweat you can and will feel a jolt of current. I had the pleasure to fence several olympians including a gold and silver medalist. You just can't appreciat the speed combined with limited visibility until they come at you at full speed.

All very well made points, and pretty cool to have been able to fence with some incredibly accomplished individuals in the sport. I guess it just looks a little lame because the foils seem to be so bendy, but I will absolutely defer to people with first hand experience. Truth is, I still felt compelled to watch the whole match where our guy lost in the gold medal match to the Italian. I just love the Olympics regardless of what they're doing.