2004 Paralympic Games - Wheelchair Fencing

[striker]

The 2004 Paralympic Games started two days ago in Athens.
To my surprise, Wheelchair Fencing is one of the sports in this
Olympic games. The interesting point about Wheelchair Fencing is that
the wheelchairs are static during the bout. Fencers must depend on
%100 blade work to win the bout.

Here is the definition of Fencing from the 2004 web site:
"Fencing is a sport that calls for adaptability, inventiveness, good
organisation, and patience. In order to master it, the fencer spends
long hours practicing."

Here is the link to the 2004 Paralympic Wheelchair Fencing page:
http://www.athens2004.com/en/WheelchairFencing

[mrbiggs]

I've always been sotra interested in wheelchair fencing, even though I hope I'll never been driven there. I think it's interesting that they still fence foil, epee and sabre. I wouldn't have thought that the weapons would still be distinct once you took out distance and footwork.

[the doc]

let me tell you that you have seen nothing in fencing until you have seen a wheelchair fencer fleche. i went to a training day once that had a wheelchair fencer, so to give her some competition we sat on a chair and fenced.

they get so vigorous that they have a outrigger to stop them toppling over easily, but this lady would just hurl herself as hard as she could reaching for a hit and somtimes the momentum would take the rigging with her!

it's a lot of fun to try if you get a chance, and it's nice not to have to worry about your footwork for a change.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by striker

The interesting point about Wheelchair Fencing is that
the wheelchairs are static during the bout. Fencers must depend on
100 percent blade work to win the bout.

Not quite right. A wheelchair fencer still has distance changes; but they're on a scale that you probably don't appreciate the same way. A lunge, for example, requires a full outward extension while you anchor yourself in the chair with your trailing arm (hand holding the back wheel or handle). A retreat pulls the fencer back into a guarded position, tilted away from perpendicular.

And, yes, you can request a "butt judge" to ensure your opponent isn't breaking the rules off overstretching his bounds.

[wflaschka]

http://www.sportsfeatures.com/PressP...w.php?id=15061

Rock on, Virginia!

A U.S. athlete claimed the country’s first fencing medal in the 2004 Paralympic Games Monday. Scott Rodgers (Richmond, Va.) out-touched Hong Kong’s Wong Ho Ming 15-10 to win the bronze medal in Men’s Category B Individual Epee.

And, I found this very interesting:

In <the semi-final> bout, Rodgers and Poland’s Robert Wysmierski fought for 7:04 without a single point being scored by either competitor.

Note that this is wheelchair épée. I can't begin to imagine how the bout could go without points for so long.