I was pleased with the turnout in these Olympics for fencing. We took home four medals – The silver in men’s foil (Alexander Massialas), silver in men’s saber (Daryl Homer), bronze for the foil team and another bronze for the women’s saber team. Here is a place to go for more details. We were close to a fifth medal in women’s team pee who came in fifth. (Saber, foil and epee are the three kinds of sword in fencing.) No sports imperialism in fencing!
It is admittedly not the eight medals won by the USA in Beijing in 2008 (That was the occasion when I did donuts in the yard for the US sweep of the medals in women’s saber. This was like the Miracle of Ice but it got little attention in the USA at the time.) but it is very excellent. There are several fencing powers and the US is now one of them. (There was a long drought in fencing from about 1932 through 1984 and then after than it was not until 2004 that the resurgence of US fencing took place.)
Now yours truly, perhaps with his penchant for obscure sports and the underdog, has actually put on the mask and uniform in battle. I took two fencing classes at Wright State University and started to take more lessons at Alabama but did not have time with studies. And like curling [helped to be started in Virginia by you know who], fencing is for all ages. Richmond has one or maybe two fencing clubs/academies – the Richmond Fencing Club and the Mechanicsville Fencing Academy. I will try to contact both of them for follow up. (Richmond has also had some important fencing competitions and the Olympic team this year was actually announced right here in the River City!) Maybe this old guy (I am 57) will have to put on the gear again!
About Elwood Sanders
Elwood "Sandy" Sanders is a Hanover attorney who is an Appellate Procedure Consultant for Lantagne Legal Printing and has written ten scholarly legal articles. Sandy was also Virginia's first Appellate Defender and also helped bring curling in VA! (None of these titles imply any endorsement of Sanders’ views)
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Twitter: richmondfencing
says:
Richmond Fencing Club would be happy to talk to you about the Olympics, and fencing in our area and State. Maybe you could visit the Club, and we can talk and maybe get you suited up again.
Tom Lucente, President and Club Manager
Richmond Fencing Club
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SandySanders2
says:
Great! Call me at 644-0477 during the day or 779-3057 in evening. What is best way to to meet – maybe at the fencing club?
Sandy
Sandy Sanders recently posted…Forum: Does America Still Have A Free, Independent Media?
Twitter: richmondfencing
says:
Coming to the Club a Tuesday or Thursday night around 730p would be a good time to see a variety of different activities including classes, lessons, bouting, and to meet the Coaches and Member Fencers. We’re open 6 days a week, but those nights have the best range of stuff going on.