The Athens Olympics will feature women competing for the first time in sabre, an aggressive, fast-paced fencing event derived from cavalry fighting.
How the sabre bout is fought
Fencers raise swords and wait for the command “Allez!” (French for “Go!”) from the referee.
An attacker lunges or moves toward her opponent with sword outstretched.
The attacked fencer must parry (deflect) or evade the blow before she can counterattack, called riposte.
The rules
– Three 3-minute rounds; first to score 15 hits wins.
– Body contact in foil and sabre is punished first by a warning, then by a one-point penalty.
– In epee, body contact is allowed as long as it is not excessively violent.
– Retreating off the back of the piste results in a point for the opponent.
– If a fencer goes off the side of the mat, the opponent gains one meter of distance.
GET THE POINT: THRUSTING
In a classic stop-thrust maneuver, this fencer leans in and strikes toward the opponent’s head. In the fastchanging action of sabre, this fencer becomes the attacker.
The piste
The aluminum or copper mat that defines the fencing boundaries is grounded to prevent points being scored when a fencer strikes it.
Athletes to watch
Sada Jacobson
United States
Ranked No. 1 worldwide in sabre; placed second in 2004 World Cup.
Anne-Lise Touya
France
Tied for second ranking worldwide; placed first in 2004 World Cup.
Elena Netchaeva
Russia
Ranked second in world with Touya; placed first at 2003 World Cup.
All-time medal standings
Hungary 18
Germany* 16
Italy 16
USSR/Russia 13
France 9
Romania 8
Britain 4
Denmark 4
*Includes W. Germany
Sources: Jeff Bukantz, U.S. Fencing Team; “The Complete Book of the Olympics”, David Wallechinsky; Sada Jacobson, U.S. Fencing Team; photographer Serge Timacheff; Federation Internationale D’Escrime, International Olympic Committee
Chicago Tribune
– See microfilm for complete graphic.
