1983 World Championships - Epee Story

[Mr Epee]

Originally Posted by Epeecurean

What was the clock standing affair? Do you mean he played for time to run out or something else?

In 1983, when Elmar Borrmann won his sole individual world championship, he colluded with his Italian opponent in the Semi-Final - They agreed before the match to conserve their energy, by not fencing the bout in regular time, and to fence for only a single touch, in overtime. This way they would both be fresher than their opponent in the Gold and Bronze Medal bouts. There was no single minute over time with priority at that time, so this was a fair proposition for both fencers.

Unfortunately, this was the first World Championships to be broadcast on Live TV in Europe. Needless to say after 4 minutes of Borrmann and the Itallian, Angelo Mazzoni, staring at each other, and not fencing, the FIE officials got involved and ordered the fencers to start moving... so they did... they jumped up and down about 4 meters apart... this too was ridiculous... so the FIE officials got together once again, and ordered them to jump up and down closer together. They did, and eventually time ran out, amidst a reign of cat-calls and hissing from the audience.

In the overtime there was a minor disaster, as they both started fencing in earnest, and came together in an action that ended with Borrmann executing his patented 8-6 stuff... but no light... The scoring machine had been turned off at the end of regulation fencing time, and had not been turned back on for the overtime. They were fencing in overtime, at the world championships, in the semi-final, for a single touch, and the machine wasn't even on...

Well after that was cleared up... the went back to fencing, and Elmar eventually won the bout on a nearly identical action to the one that occurred with the box off.

Incidentally, their ploy worked as Borrmann defeated his next opponent, and the bronze medal was won by the Italian who defeated his opponent as well.

I think it was Giger (SUI) in second place, and Kolczonay (HON) on the short end of this ruse.

This made for really really bad TV - although it's a great fencing story, and could only happen in Epee - Where men are men...

[Epeecurean]

Thanks for the story, that was great! I'd give you rep if I knew how.

Was the 4th place Kolczonay the same Kolczonay in your siggie? If so, it's a shame he didn't face Bormann in the final, it would've been more interesting!

[Mr Epee]

Thanks,

There are so many great fencing stories, but so few people to tell them.

Yes, the same Kolczonay, and by the way he loved fencing Borrmann.

Kolconay was also a very notorious cheat, and was personally responsible for having several rules added to the rule book... He was brilliant fencer, although maybe not the most honest person. In that light it's pretty funny that he suffered as a result of this incident.

He was absolutely outraged, and probably is to this day, because he was one of the few who fully appreciated the situation that probably cost him a medal at World Championships.

[oiuyt]

Originally Posted by Epeecurean

Thanks for the story, that was great! I'd give you rep if I knew how.

Click the little button under Mr Epee's name to the left of his post that has both a checkmark and an "x" (should be the middle of the three buttons). Conveniently, on-mouseover you should also get a little yellow note that says "Add to Mr Epee's Reputation" (assuming you're using Explorer). That brings up a dialog which you can use to add to rep.

Hope that helps.

-B :)