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Peach · 10-05-2002, 12:09 PM

Most of my Sunday Times, of course, comes on Saturday morning, and I just turned to page 44 and encountered a full-page "What They Were Thinking" piece with large photo on Brendan Meyers, Dwight Smith, and Emily Cross at Fencers Club. A nice little piece about a 14-year-old and two 15-year-olds, taking them seriously as athletes.

***Craig*** · 10-05-2002, 01:03 PM

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/06/magazine/06WTWT.html

Quote:

What They Were Thinking
Interviews by SARA IVRY

Brendan Meyers, Dwight Smith, Emily Cross, Fencers Club, New York, Aug. 14, 2002

Meyers, 14 (left): ''Being a fencer, you know, you can't expect great things. It doesn't enrage me, but it does annoy me that other sports get so much more attention. The Fencers Club right now is one of the strongest, best clubs in the country. If I play soccer or football with friends, I'm really careful. Not that they're extremely dangerous sports, but a wrong kick to the shin or a tackle could end a career.''

Smith, 15 (center): ''People come to train in New York because we have the best fencers. Everyone's drawn here. I don't want to sound cocky, but I'm naturally talented in most sports, and this one, I had to give a little more effort. I wake up around 5, get to school around 8. After school, I fence until 8 or 9, get home around 10:30, go to bed around 12. Ranking-wise, I'm second, and I'm not gonna tolerate that. I give myself two years before I'm No. 1.''

Cross, 15: ''Nationally, I'm No. 1 in junior (that's the under 20's) and cadet (the under 17's). I compete in all age groups; I'm No. 2 in senior. I'd go to competitions, and I'd be thinking, All these women have been fencing so much longer than me, some longer than I've been alive. At first, it was intimidating. But now, I've been fencing for six years. I love the feel of the movements; something about them suits me. You don't get to be a great fencer just by being strong or being tall. It's about planning how your opponent will react to something you do and trying to trick them. It's a lot like chess, actually.''

Tomas N · 10-07-2002, 10:44 AM

I agree with Peach. This is a nice story. Sorry I missed it the first time around. It's good to hear kids who talk about fencing as being as competitive as any other sport.

dreadfoil · 10-08-2002, 06:39 PM

i have mixed feelings about the sport's attention in the media and so forth. First, the sport of fencing has endured for centuries without alot of media attention, and the athletes have done very well, traveling abroad, training with athletes from around the world, and avoiding the pitfalls that overexposure can cause. It seems unfair that sports like football and basketball should have so much media attention and financial backing, and the athletes are not always the best role models. The european fencers are still the role models of fencing, they enjoy public support for the most part, and financial backing through sponsors. Why and how did this happen? It is merely a tradition? Or did many people work hard at making this happen. As more highschools bring fencing into their schools I feel the sport will enjoy more public support. But I sincerely hope we don't sacrifice a classy sport to people who throw beer cans out their car windows.

Peach · 10-08-2002, 06:46 PM

Thoughtful coverage in the New York Times Sunday magazine will more probably attract people who meticulously sort and recycle their expensive bottled water containers.

Jason · 10-09-2002, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dreadfoil
Why and how did this happen? It is merely a tradition? Or did many people work hard at making this happen.

In a lot of European countries--especially the formerly socialist ones--the state sponsors many of the top athletes, including some of the top fencers.
So, in some countries, you'll have top fencers getting a regular government paycheck for fencing.
Then, if they get some good result, they get mad loot.
If I remember correctly, when Podzniakov won in Atlanta, he got paid something like $100,000 (now that's a lot of rubles

) from Russia's ministry of sport.

Of course, if these fencers slip from the top of the ranking list, the money stops.

haggis · 10-09-2002, 06:23 PM

Jason's dead right. Successful European fencing nations support their athletes directly. When fencing and other Olympic sports had stricter amateur rules, the fencers would often be "students", "policemen", "firemen" or "soldiers". None of them did anything other than fence. These days, at least the funding is honest. Also the clubs will often contribute a great deal to covering the fencers expenses. Whether that money comes from sponsors or the revenue generated by the club from membership depends on how well organised the club is.

veeco · 10-09-2002, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by haggis
Jason's dead right. Successful European fencing nations support their athletes directly. When fencing and other Olympic sports had stricter amateur rules, the fencers would often be "students", "policemen", "firemen" or "soldiers". None of them did anything other than fence. These days, at least the funding is honest. Also the clubs will often contribute a great deal to covering the fencers expenses. Whether that money comes from sponsors or the revenue generated by the club from membership depends on how well organised the club is.

I don't understand what's "dishonest" in having a state funded fencing program... It puts others at a disadvantage, maybe but it doesn't have anything dishonest at all from my point of view...

It · 10-09-2002, 09:59 PM

Another reason could be that we do it to ourselves. I mean look how many times we change the rules of the sport (USFA). It kind of makes it difficult to follow the sport. Also our sport may be fast paced but to some too fast paced. The Flicke for example. An ordinary person would look at that and say "What was that? How come he got the point? I didn't see it! Thatls not fencing!" ( I use the Flicke once in a while by the way. Advantage of the Italian Epee!

) That action is a bit fast for T.V., in my opinion. People may get confused and get bored. Personally I enjoy watching the sport and I'll do what a few fencers would actually do. I'd stay to the end of the tournament and wait until I see that Gold be put around the neck of the day's Victor, even if I get eliminated in my D.E. five bouts ago. Which leads me to, when people compete and leave right after they get eliminated, what makes some people think that anyone else would want watch the sport even if they won't. Even people who compete won't stay to support the sport. Also another thing could be some of the in internal fighting in some Divisions. Not giving praise when praise is due. Or simply mis-management

Oh by the way , saw the Article and Enjoyed the coverage. It's nice to know were still alive