Passing of some giants

[misha]

A few years ago Kolobkov did a series of clinics in the DC area and gave lessons at our club (NIH). He is also a great coach.

These clinics are only off-season additional income.
I would think that he would not give up competitive fencing for
non-permament jobs like this



.

[misha]

(Off the topic: The U.S. really needs a top level ME coach. I would say of the 3 squads the U.S. sent to the OG's, ME was the weakest, and arguably because of coaching. The two best competitors, in my mind, on the U.S. ME team were Thompson (beat Rota to gain 7th place finish in the individuals!) and Vivianni, who only sub'ed into the ME Team event, but to me showed a much more intelligent style, and game than what I saw of Mattern and Kelsey. I think Thompson and Vivianni both hv European coaches, despite Soter being the official U.S. ME coach.)

ME was the weakest, but had the best individual men's result
No top-8 results in other weapons.

If you compare official individual FIE point standings for ME & MF
top 32: ME - 3 MF - 0
top 100 ME - 8 MF - 3


Do you still think US ME is worse than MF?


.

[reposte]

Hi jspierre,

No, I did understand you the first time and that was exactly what I meant:
Granted, the olympics do boast of a number of unlikely individual winners, but you have to remember that from Pozdniakov's side, he RULED the season up until the Olympics: Statistics were against him if nothing else when he entered the Olympic games.
Two of the semi final contendors were - I do believe but correct me if I'm wrong - relative unknowns.
Pozdniakov - being Russian, favours s slow pensive game which is relatively volnurable to knew threats at crucial points, in sabre and in foil.
He may retire, but I doubt that - he's in top form.
As for Kolobkov - well, he simply lost. Nothing to do there.
I do feel that we ought to introduce some sort of rounds system to the Olympics as it was before.
It gives Athletes time to acclimatize themselves and to deal with unknowns better, thus enabling to achieve truer results as for the better fencer in the house.
P.S
I don't see anyone retiring soon due on results. Maybe one of them decides he had enough but I doubt it will have had anything to do with this Olympics (Being 10 times European champion means you've been around for a while - enough to get sick of it...)

[sabreman]

>>
These clinics are only off-season additional income.
I would think that he would not give up competitive fencing for
non-permament jobs like this
>>

I never said such a thing. I was just pointing out that he did give clinics in our area (DC and Baltimore) and gave lessons at our club for about a week(not sure he did this anywhere else in the US). Vitali Nazlymov is one of our coaches and does this kind of thing (has Russian Olympic fencers visit for clinics and lessons) from time to time. We also had Chirchov (sabre) visit for about a month one time. Kolobkov visited two different times (before and after the 2000 Olympics) and was on his way back from tournaments. All I can say he is also a great coach and major clubs all over the world would be lining up for his services.

[whtouche]

Who is chirchov?

[reposte]

probably means Charikov?

[sabreman]

Team Gold Medalist at 1992 Olympics. I believe the youngest fencer ever to win a Senior Mens Sabre World Cup. He is about the same age as Pozdniakov. He ran into some health problems but is a coach now. I saw him in this year in NYC and he said he starting a fencing club in Moscow. Also one hell of a nice guy plus a great fencer and coach!

[sabreman]

>>probably means Charikov?

No. See above.

[reposte]

Also one hell of a nice guy

Then it's definately not Charikov (me following up on the slander of my coach who knew him...)