Wikipedia

Wheelchair fencing

Wheelchair fencing (also called Para fencing) is a version of fencing for athletes with a disability. Wheelchair fencing is governed by the World Abilitysport (formally International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation), which is a member of the International Paralympic Committee, and is one of the sports in the Summer Paralympic Games. The Paralympic Games take place every four years in different countries.

Romain Noble (L) v Tian Jianquan (R) in the final of the épée A event in the 2013 World Fencing Championships

History

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Dr. Ludwig Guttmann, founder of the Paralympic Movement, initially introduced Para fencing in 1954 at the Stoke Mandeville Games. Since then, the sport has participated in every edition of the Games [1]. Para fencing made its official debut at the 1960 Summer Paralympics in Rome, with nine wheelchair fencers from Italy, including six men and three women. There were two disciplines including sabre and foil events.[2]

Gender equality increased, leading to the women’s epee events being added to the Seoul 1988 Paralympic Games. During the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games, several events were included. The sport started developing and shaping a classification system, which was introduced – category A and B.[3]

Para fencing saw a remarkable success in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, by being the first Paralympic sport with sold out tickets before the Games. There was a new adjustment to the competition format, called repechage, which is a format that allows athletes to compete further for medals, even if they do not advance from the first take.[4]

New events are going to be added to the LA 2028 Paralympic Games in mixed gender team epee and foil events.[5]

Equipment

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With the development of the sport, a steady wheelchair fixed in place has been introduced, which also allows mobility, specifically designed for Para fencing. [6]

  • The three types of swords and events are foil, épée, or sabre
  • Protective gear includes long trousers, mask, gloves, breeches and a chest protector

Classification

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Classification is a system that determines the eligibility of an athlete to compete for a certain sport and to group athletes accordingly for competition purposes. Athletes are grouped to compete against each other, depending on their common impairment. [7]

In Para fencing there are three classes of competition – A, B and C.  [8]

Categories A and B are classes participating in the Paralympic Games involving athletes with impairments such as spinal-cord injuries, cerebral palsy and amputations.[9] Category C is a class, which takes part in World Para Fencing competitions.[10]

  • Class A (athletes with full trunk movement and good balance)
  • Class B (athletes with no leg movement and impaired trunk and balance functions)
  • Class C (athletes with a disability in all four limbs, not included in the Paralympic Games program)

Rules

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In foil and sabre events, points can be scored by being the first to strike the rival in the torso area. In epee, both athletes may win points by striking each other. In the knockout rounds, the rival that strikes five times or most times during the last three minutes is the winner. In the final round, it is required to strike the opponent fifteen times within a span of nine minutes to achieve victory.[11]

Events

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Paralympic Games

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World Championships

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EditionYearHostDates
11994Hong Kong Hong Kong
21998Germany Euskirchen
32002Germany Frankfurt
42006Italy Turin
52010France Paris12–20 November
62011Italy Catania8–15 October
72013Hungary Budapest7–12 August
82015Hungary Eger17–24 September
92017Italy Rome6–12 November
102019South Korea Cheongju17–23 September
112021Poland Warsaw5–6 July
122023Italy Terni3–8 October
132025South Korea Iksan2-7 September

European Championships

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EditionYearHostDates
12011United Kingdom Sheffield13–19 July
22014France Strasbourg7–12 June
32016Italy Casale Monferrato17–22 May
42018Italy Terni17–23 September
52021Hungary Eger14–17 May
62022Poland Warsaw29 November – 4 December
72024France Paris5–10 March

See also

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References

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