Paralympic Games and Wheelchair Fencing
Wednesday, September 10th, 2008You heard me right! There is such a sport as Wheelchair Fencing! In honor of the start of the Paralympic Games, let me give you a short introduction to this sport.
Wheelchair Sabre, 1996 Paralympic Games
Wheelchair fencing has been a sport at the Paralympic Games since 1960. Fencers compete in all three weapons, foil, épée, and sabre, and with the exception of motion the rules are very similar. Target area in foil and sabre are the same as in able-bodied fencing, while in épée, a metallic apron prevents touches from registering below the waist. Wheelchair fencers compete from a static position, with the chairs being fixed to a metal frame to prevent rolling or tipping. Fencers are divided into categories by ability, and fencers with a wide range of disability may compete.
A motion currently on the table from the July USFA Board of Directors meeting is the introduction of Mixed Wheelchair events. This would allow wheelchair fencers to compete in designated competitions against able-bodied fencers (who will also fence in a chair) as long as they supply the necessary equipment (strip, frame, and chairs). The current situation is such that there is only a small number of wheelchair fencers in the country and this will widen their opportunities to fence and to improve. Some questions remain, such as whether able-bodied fencers will have a movement advantage (having more balance in their lower body) or whether wheelchair fencers will enjoy an advantage simply because they are used to fencing at a fixed distance. Overall, I think this will be a positive move for the USFA to make, and us able-bodied fencers will have to make do, and possibly even start practicing chair drills! Hopefully at some point we will be able to bring wheelchair fencing to our small club but the cost of startup equipment makes that a ways off.
If you are interested in wheelchair fencing or the Paralympic Games, check out these resources!
International Wheelchair Fencing
International Paralympic Committee
MDR
![[del.icio.us]](http://rocarts.com/sabrecat/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://rocarts.com/sabrecat/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://rocarts.com/sabrecat/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Technorati]](http://rocarts.com/sabrecat/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/technorati.png)