FENCING MOVES FORWARD

FENCING MOVES FORWARD

With the announcement of London winning the bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games followed an increase in interest, funding and motivation across sports that will compete in front of a home crowd in little over five years.

The sport of fencing is one of those sports to see significant benefits. Steeped in history and tradition, the focus is now moving the sport forward with the aim of world and Olympic medal success.

“The pace and volume of activity performed by and expected of British Fencing continues to increase as we move towards London 2012,” explained British Fencing President Keith Smith. "Even though we are still five years away we are already setting in motion the programmes which will support our fencers all the way to London 2012, providing them with enough time to develop and achieve successful performances on the world stage.”

Having launched their Olympic pathway programme in January, success has already come with Britain’s Jon Willis winning the World Cup in Germany last month. Its significance is evident - it is the first time a British fencer has won a World Cup event since 1981.

Jon Willis says that the increase in funding and subsequent selection for the Olympic Pathway Programme played a large part: “Being able to train full time is clearly already paying off for me. I was part of a training camp in Germany prior to the tournament, which was great preparation and I’m so thrilled with the medal. Hopefully it will be the first of many for me and the rest of the GB Olympic team.”
 
British Fencing’s Olympic Pathway Programme was launched in January 2007 with the specific aim of winning an Olympic fencing medal, for the first time since 1964, at London 2012. After a series of rigorous selection trials 16 British fencers were selected to enter the World Class Programme: divided into the Podium programme of 6 athletes and the Development programme of 10 athletes. The six Podium athletes are members of the successful Mens’ Foil team who were quarter-finalists in the 2006 World Championships and the Womens Sabre team, quarter-finalists in the 2006 European Championships.

By Ally McDonald

13.04.07