What would you ask a World Champion?

[Craig]

One of the comments that I got back from the site survey again and again was that fencers wanted more news and more insight into what the top fencers were up to.

If you had the ability to interview a world champion (or any of the top 10), what questions would you ask? Who do you want to see answering the interviews?

Craig

[labouche]

What did it take to get where you're at?
I would love to see any of the top fencers interview but if I had to pick a couple it would probably be Ralph Bisdorf and Slawomir Mocek.
-la bouche

[duel mom]

Question: I have read that fencing is a metaphor for life. Do you agree, and how is it so?

Question: I have also read that fencing can be learned in a short time but that it takes a lifetime to master. Your fencing is masterful, are you still learning?

Those are my top two questions.

[sloper]

I'd like them to talk about touches and bouts they've fenced that they think memorable. Every fencer can go on ad nauseum about their most memorable moments - what they were thinking, what happened, what they did right, what they should have done, etc. But it might actually be interesting to hear from top fencers. Especially the "what were they thinking" part.

Susan

[JEC]

At esgrimaMEX.com, we have interviews of:

Pilar Roldan (Silver Olympic Foil medalist '68) - Mexican
http://www.esgrimamex.com/cgi-bin/ul...c;f=1;t=000043

Jonathan Peña - Epee - Puerto Rico = Ranked 26 currently
http://www.esgrimamex.com/Lisboa/Pena.htm

Elvis Gregory - Foil - Cuba
http://www.esgrimamex.com/Lisboa/Lisboa01.htm

[a517dogg]

"What did it feel like to win the final touch?"

[1936]

Ask away

[morael]

I'd ask: What is your state of mind when you are fencing at your best, in competition? (Thoughts, focus, etc)
What is your state of mind when you are fencing at practice/training?

[danp]

* What do you think of the current state of fencing, and where would you like it to go as a sport? What would you change?

* What was the hardest aspect of fencing that you had to overcome to get to the level you've achieved?

* What advice would you give to young fencers hoping to become champions?

* What kind and amount of training do you do?

* What do you look for in a coach?

* Do you customize (or do you have) your gear customized in any particular way to suit you? What are your gear preferences?

* Describe your mental preparation for competition.

...there's so little information about the personal lives, preferences, stories and tales of the top fencers (foil specifically being my interest) that just about anything would be interesting. Training routines, competition preparation, obstacles to success, gear choices, political (fie, usfa) opinions, advice... choices and reasons for retiring from competition... anything that could string together a picture of the person and their unique approach to the sport would be great.

-Dan

[duel mom]

Dan P, you are so correct. It is just this type of personal info if made available to the media, would generate their interest in doing a story and watching/filming the competition then bring it to their readership. Could the fencer's clubs gather some info for press packets for the media to get the reporters interested?

[Mo]

Craig,
Could you define "champion?"
World Champion?
US Champion?
Junior, Cadet, Y10??

[labouche]

Originally posted by Mo
Craig,
Could you define "champion?"
World Champion?
US Champion?
Junior, Cadet, Y10??

He said world champion

[Army Fencer]

What is your profession, and how do you convince your boss to train and compete?

How is your family life? Are you still able to go out with your spouse or significant other?

Where did you get the money to compete at the level you're at?

What made you decide that you wanted to be world champion?

(Easier questions) What made you decide to start fencing? How old were you?

How do you prepare for a competition, nuitritionally?

Was there ever a point when you were fencing that you said, this is too intense, I want to quit? Or was there ever a time that teammates made you feel that way? How did you deal with those times?

Any regrets?

What was your single most joyious moment in fencing?

[Dan H]

Question: wanna fence?

[labouche]

Originally posted by Dan H
Question: wanna fence?

Oh yeah, I forgot about that one.

[swordsen]

ok 1936. who are you and what did you win?

[Thomas]

whoa take it easy, he was just joking

[The0ne]

What kept you motivated the whole way through your training?

and

What helps you relax before very important high level bouts?

[P00Man]

i would want to interview Stanislav Pozdniakov

[Inquartata]

"Will you give me lessons?"