cyranoVR's Journal: Fencing News Round Up (UPDATED)

USA Today: Columbia, Commodore 64 prep fencer for Games
Thanks to his Pan Am Games victory in August, Dan Kellner can claim to the best men's foil fencer in the Western Hemisphere. The world rankings back him up -- he's 22nd in the world, best in the West. He spoke with USATODAY.com's Beau Dure after a recent training session.
Read interview...

AP: Zagunis gets Olympic berth after Nigerians decline
American Mariel Zagunis, one of the top 10 women's saber fencers in the world, will compete in the Athens Olympics after the Nigerian Olympic Committee declined to have its fencer participate in the competition.

The U.S. Fencing Association received word Monday morning from FIE -- fencing's international governing body -- that the Nigerians refused their spot and that Zagunis, from Portland, Ore., would be allowed to compete.
[Ed. note: Thus setting the stage for a legitimate medal-sweep in Women's Saber]
Full Article...

Harvard Gazette: Harvard grad is Athens-bound
Gregory Chang becomes first Crimson fencer in 68 years to make U.S. Olympic team
Success in fencing requires balance, timing, preparation, and sacrifice. Achieving this elusive combination is as rare as it is impressive. Gregory Chang has done it.

Chang, a graduate of Harvard College '97 and Harvard Medical School (HMS) '03, will travel to Athens, Greece, and the Games of the XXVII Olympiad this summer as a member of the U.S. Olympic Fencing Team, the first Crimson fencer to make a modern Olympic team in close to 70 years [Ed note: Chang will be the sub fencer and probably won't actually compete].
Full article...

AP: Ivan Lee looks forward to fencing before home crowd
When Ivan Lee first started fencing, he liked working with a foil but felt there was something missing -- something that he found in saber.

"I wanted to hit people in the head! And you can't hit people in the head in foil," Lee said.
Full article...

CyranoVR: NYC Grand Prix of Fencing, 2004
Schedule of events, live results, photos and more! The United States takes on the World in Team Men's Saber tomorrow, June 10th, 11AM.
On the world wide web:
http://www.nycgrandprixoffencing.com

** 5PM - LATE BREAKING NEWS **

F.I.E. to German, Algerian men's saber teams - "D'oh!"

AP:Algeria gets Olympics berth after fencing federation realizes mistake
The Algerian men's saber team will compete in the Athens Olympics after fencing's international governing body realized it had mistakenly offered a vacant spot to Germany.
Full article...

Looks like Germany is going to sue the FIE over this gaffe. They didn't realize Algeria is an African country? Unbelievable.

Ooooo linkage!

[robi2106]

Thanks for the links. Are you part of the NY compitition tomorrow? I mean administrative or competitive?

jason

Re:Ooooo linkage!

[cyranoVR]

Administrative.

Germany...

[Eluvias]

They're not the top European nation for Men's Sabre? I thought it was them or Hungary. I know Germany got the automatic spot for Men's Foil.

I heard that the USA clinched the fourth most fencers in the world. I think it stands at France(16), Russia(15), China(15), and USA(14). Imagine that... we have more than both Italy and Poland!

Re:Germany...

[cyranoVR]

Germany went down in recent years, especially after their top fencer (2000 Bronze medalist) went back to his home country of Thailand.