Thank you Ed Korfanty and Arkady Burdan.

[MdA]

Thank you Fencing Master Ed Korfanty and US Olympic Coach Arkady Burdan. I am still trying to absorb the thrill of yesterday’s Olympic fencing. Four years ago I wrote an article for the Swordmaster magazine about the gold and bronze medal performances by Mariel and Sada.

I was thinking at that time, that it would be a long time before that accomplishment would be equaled or surpassed. Yet, here we are four years later and the most thrilling moment in my fencing life has already been eclipsed. …by seeing three American flags raised above the Olympic fencing podium simultaneously…the first three medals for the USA at the 2008 Olympics…with an American President in attendance.

I could not have imagined a more perfect Olympic moment for US Fencing.

Friends and family have called me because they know I am a fencing coach. Colleagues at work ask me about the fencing events at the Olympics. The San Antonio newspaper (in the heart of football country) has a huge article in the Sunday sports section.

Because I am a coach, I see these events from the perspective of the coach. I would like to publicly thank coach Burdan and Korfanty. They left their homelands to lead our women saber fencers to Olympic glory…and inspire us all. For any coach, to have a fencer win an Olympic medal would be the accomplishment of a lifetime. To have two fencers win medals in the same Olympic event is just unbelievable. Thanks for the thrill and the inspiration for all American fencers their coaches.

Let’s use this moment to build up American fencers. When they come into our clubs, let’s train them up right.

[tbryan]

with an American President in attendance.

Wasn't that the former president, HW? I was under the impression that W spent the day with beach volleyball and softball.

[noodle]

Wasn't that the former president, HW? I was under the impression that W spent the day with beach volleyball and softball.

all presidents, past and present, are referred to as "president". you could add in "past" in there to specify but it isn't required.

[JEC]

There are quite a few pictures of W with the volleyball girls, while HW was more classy!!!

[MdA]

all presidents, past and present, are referred to as "president". you could add in "past" in there to specify but it isn't required.

There are quite a few pictures of W with the volleyball girls, while HW was more classy!!!

I would guess that Past President George H.W. Bush attended the women's sabre event because both he and Sada Jacobson are Yale graduates.

[edew]

Whereas Dubya just went there for four years of slumming...

[edew]

Georgie boy was, is and always will be nothing more than a cheerleader. That's all he's good at. So, he'll be at the big-O cheering the US athletes wherever he can. If it's Beach volleyball or basketball or (in his mind) ice skating, he'll be there leading the cheer.

"Gimme a Dubya! . . ."

[Mo]

May Ed get what he so richly deserves for being the coach that he is...

Arkady, You are such a character. Keep that up.

The Momster

[MdA]

Georgie boy was, is and always will be nothing more than a cheerleader. That's all he's good at. So, he'll be at the big-O cheering the US athletes wherever he can. If it's Beach volleyball or basketball or (in his mind) ice skating, he'll be there leading the cheer.

"Gimme a Dubya! . . ."

Let's not get too political now...I'm just glad the Presidents were there...and especially for our young sabre champions...and their coaches.

All our athletes deserve the recognition of the Presidents....they represent the American people in this capacity ....I am not concerned about politics at the Olympics...just the people.

[MdA]

I told some of our youngest fencers about the medal ceremony at practice last night. I told them President Bush was there. I hope this will inspire America's young fencers for years to come. I told them that they can win medals at the Olympics...and the events of this past weekend help them believe me!!!

I hope other coaches are using these moments to inspire their young fencers.