It’s an ancient sport, in which France excels: discover the history and functioning of fencing, before following the events of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
It is one of the sports that we always look forward to, during Olympic and Paralympic Games : the tests offencing in Paris are one of the essentials of these 2024 Olympic Games. Fencing has been an Olympic sport since the very first modern Olympic Games, in 1896. Do you dream of attending the fencing fights in 2024? So go to Big palace from July 27 to August 4, 2024.
Fencing is a combat sport, also considered an art. It is one of the oldest sports in the world: representations of bladed weapon combat can be found on Egyptian tombs or among the Hittites. It is impossible to retrace the entire history of this sport in detail, as it is so rich.
In the West, fencing is first and foremost the art of handling a weapon, and the art of defending oneself. From the Middle Ages, fencing becomes especially useful: it is an essential learning for military and thearistocracy. It was in the 19th and early 20th centuries that fencing gradually became a sport, open to all.
Since the first edition of the modern Games, in 1896, fencing has been part of the celebration… But not entirely. Indeed, fencing can be practiced with three weapons: the foilL’sword and the saber. Only foil and saber were initially accepted into the Olympic Games. Epee joined the competition in 1900. For women, it would be much longer before fencers could fight in the Olympics. Women’s foil was integrated in 1924, women’s epee in 1996 and women’s saber in 2004.
The rules
In competition, fencing is contested according to age groups and the weapon used. Each weapon has its own rules. In foil, you only touch with the point, and only on the opponent’s chest. You have to have priority to be able to hit and score a point.
In swordsmanship, you also hit with the point, but the whole body is a potential target. There is no priority convention. Finally, the saber is a thrusting weapon, where you touch with the blade. As in foil, you must have priority to be able to touch and score. With a saber, you can touch the torso, arms and head.
During the Olympic Games events, foil and epee matches take place in 15 touches and three three-minute periods. In saber, we fight in eight touches in two periods. Team matches take place in relays: three fencers from the same team face the three opposite, with a maximum of 45 touches.
The records
France is particularly gifted and rewarded in fencing during the Olympic Games. “ Fencing is the French sport with the most medals in the history of the Olympic Games with 128 medalsincluding 43 titles », recalls the French Fencing Federation. It must be said that fencing is one of the rare sports where the refereeing of fights in international competition must be done in French!
However, France is not the only one to stand out in this discipline. Thus, the Italian Nedo Nadi is the only fencer to have won an Olympic medal with all three weapons: he triumphed in 1920 in the epee, foil and saber! History also remembers the name of his compatriot, Edoardo Mangiarotti, who still holds the record for the number of Olympic medals in fencing (6 gold, 5 silver and 2 bronze in epee and foil). In fact, Italy and France very often compete for first place in the medal table.
French fencers have therefore left their mark on the history of French sport. We can cite, among others, Roger Ducret, Philippe Cattiau Or Laura Flessel, the French people with the most medals at the Olympic Games. But the younger generation is already making a name for itself. In 2022, the French team composed of Romain Cannone, Yannick Borel, Alex Fava and Alexandre Bardenet, was crowned World Champion. Enough to give us hope for these Paris Olympics!
What if you too became a fencer?
Fencing: where to learn and practice this sport in Paris and Île-de-France?
Fencing is a sport that makes us all dream. What if you too learned to use the sword, the saber or the foil? Here are the clubs in the Ile-de-France region where you can learn and practice fencing. [Lire la suite]
Fencing: where to learn and practice this sport in Paris and Île-de-France?The program for the Paris Olympics
Saturday July 27
- 10:00 – Individual epee – women, table of 64
- 10:25 – Individual saber – men, table of 64
- 10:50 – Individual epee – women, table of 32
- 12:30 – Individual saber – men, table of 32
- 14:10 – Individual epee – women, table of 16
- 3:00 p.m. – Individual saber – men, table of 16
- 15:50 – Individual epee – women, table of 8
- 16:15 – Individual saber – men, table of 8
- 19:00 – Individual Epee – women, 1/2 final 1
- 19:25 – Individual Epee – women, 1/2 final 2
- 19:50 – Individual saber – men, 1/2 final 1
- 20:15 – Individual saber – men, 1/2 final 2
- 20:40 – Individual epee – women, bronze match 🥇
- 21:05 – Individual saber – men, bronze match 🥇
- 9:30 p.m. – Individual epee – women, gold match 🥇
- 21:55 – Individual saber – men, gold match
- 09:30 –Individual foil – women, table of 64
- 10:00 – Individual sword – hom., table of 64
- 10:25 – Individual foil – women, table of 32
- 12:25 – Individual sword – hom., table of 32
- 14:05 – Individual foil – women, table of 16
- 15:05 – Individual sword – hom., table of 16
- 15:55 – Individual foil – women, table of 8
- 16:25 – Individual epee – men, table of 8
- 19:00 – Individual foil – women, 1/2 final 1
- 19:30 – Individual foil – women, 1/2 final 2
- 20:00 – Individual Epee – men, 1/2 final 1
- 20:25 – Individual Epee – men, 1/2 final 2
- 20:50 – Individual foil – women, bronze match 🥇
- 21:20 – Individual epee – men, bronze match 🥇
- 21:45 – Individual foil – women, gold match 🥇
- 22:15 – Individual Epee – Men, Gold Match
- 09:30 – Individual saber – women, table of 64
- 09:55 – Individual foil – men, table of 64
- 10:25 – Individual saber – women, table of 32
- 12:05 – Individual foil – men, table of 32
- 14:05 – Individual saber – women, table of 16
- 14:55 – Individual foil – men, table of 16
- 15:55 – Individual saber – women, table of 8
- 16:20 – Individual foil – men, table of 8
- 19:00 – Individual saber – women, 1/2 final 1
- 19:25 – Individual saber – women, 1/2 final 2
- 19:50 – Individual foil – men, 1/2 final 1
- 20:20 – Individual foil – men, 1/2 final 2
- 20:50 – Individual saber – women, bronze match 🥇
- 21:15 – Individual foil – men, bronze match 🥇
- 21:45 – Individual saber – women, gold match 🥇
- 22:10 – Individual foil – men, gold match 🥇
- 1:30 p.m. – Team Epee – women, table of 8
- 15:00 – Team Epee – women, class 5-8
- 3:50 p.m. – Team Epee – women, 1/2 final 2
- 3:50 p.m. – Team Epee – women, 1/2 final 1
- 16:40 – Team Epee – women, place. 7-8
- 16:40 – Team Epee – women, place. 5-6
- 19:30 – Team epee – women, bronze match 🥇
- 20:30 – Team Epee – women, gold match 🥇
- 1:30 p.m. – Saber team – men, table of 8
- 3:00 p.m. – Team saber – men, class 5-8
- 15:50 – Team saber – men, 1/2 final 2
- 15:50 – Team saber – men, 1/2 final 1
- 16:40 – Team saber – men, place. 7-8
- 16:40 – Team saber – men, place. 5-6
- 19:30 – Team saber – men, bronze match 🥇
- 20:30 – Team saber – men, gold match
- 11:50 – Team foil – women, table of 8
- 1:40 p.m. – Team foil – women, class 5-8
- 2:50 p.m. – Team foil – women, 1/2 final 2
- 2:50 p.m. – Team foil – women, 1/2 final 1
- 16:00 – Team foil – women, place. 7-8
- 16:00 – Team foil – women, place. 5-6
- 19:10 – Team foil – women, bronze match 🥇
- 20:30 – Team foil – women, gold match
- 1:30 p.m. – Team Epee – men, table of 8
- 3:00 p.m. – Team epee – men, class 5-8
- 15:50 – Team Epee – men, 1/2 final 2
- 15:50 – Team Epee – men, 1/2 final 1
- 16:40 – Team epee – men, place. 7-8
- 16:40 – Team epee – men, place. 5-6
- 19:30 – Team epee – men, bronze match 🥇
- 20:30 – Team Epee – men, gold match
- 1:00 p.m. – Team saber – women, table of 8
- 2:30 p.m. – Team saber – women, class 5-8
- 15:20 – Team saber – women, 1/2 final 2
- 15:20 – Team saber – women, 1/2 final 1
- 16:10 – Team saber – women, place. 7-8
- 16:10 – Team saber – women, place. 5-6
- 19:00 – Team saber – women, bronze match 🥇
- 20:00 – Team saber – women, gold match
Sunday August 4
- 11:50 – Team foil – men, table of 8
- 1:40 p.m. – Team foil – men, class 5-8
- 2:50 p.m. – Team foil – men, 1/2 final 2
- 2:50 p.m. – Team foil – men, 1/2 final 1
- 16:00 – Team foil – men, place. 7-8
- 16:00 – Team foil – men, place. 5-6
- 19:10 – Team foil – men, bronze match 🥇
- 8:30 p.m. – Team foil – men, gold match
Author Bio
A connoisseur of the digital marketplace and a master of the written word, this 30-year-old English expert brings to the table a wealth of knowledge rooted in the sale of digital products and a passion for blogging that resonates with an audience seeking expertise and insight in the online realm.
Their insights are drawn from hands-on experience navigating the intricacies of e-commerce and content creation—leading the forefront of digital innovation and communication. Whether it’s breaking down complex marketing strategies or sharing tips on how to captivate an online audience, their work stands as a testament to a career built upon successful digital engagement and savvy business acumen.
Stay tuned to absorb compelling content from a voice that not only understands the digital landscape but also shapes its future through every blog post and digital strategy.
