The main objective in wheelchair fencing (the same as in able-bodied competitions), is for the athlete to score 15 points (or the greatest number of hits) against his/her opponent. Athletes are connected electronically to a signal box that records the touches of the weapon. A point is awarded each time a fencer touches the opponent in the target area.
The primary difference in wheelchair fencing is that athletes only have free movement in their upper bodies. Able-bodied fencers compete moving around on a 14-metre strip, while wheelchair fencers compete from a static position. Wheelchairs are fixed in place to the ground by metal frames; the chair is usually clamped to both sides of the frame to keep it from tipping. The fencer with the shortest arms decides if the playing area will be at his distance or that of his opponent. During play, the fencer holds the fencing weapon in one hand. The other hand is used to hold onto the chair when lunging and recovering. Feet must remain on the footrest and the fencer must remain seated. The chair must be fixed at a 110-degree angle to the central bar.
In preliminary individual events, each bout lasts four minutes. The winner is the first to score five hits (or the greatest number of hits) in the bout. This is followed by a knockout system where athletes compete in three, three-minute rounds with a one-minute break between rounds. The winner is the first to score 15 hits (or the greatest number of hits). In the case of a tie an extra one-minute bout is played. The first to score a hit is the winner. In team events, the first team of three to score 45 hits is the winner.
The International Sport Federation for wheelchair fencing is the International Wheelchair Fencing Committee. The National Sport Federation is the Canadian Fencing Federation.
Classification
Athletes who use wheelchairs are eligible to compete in wheelchair fencing. This generally includes athletes who have had a spinal cord injury (quadriplegic and paraplegic) or lower leg amputation or who have cerebral palsy or other physical disabilities that require the use of a wheelchair.
There are three divisions of competition based on disability classification. Athletes are classified into one of three classes A, B, or C. However, class C competitors do not compete at Paralympic Games.
Each athlete is examined by the classification team to determine his/her ability to perform the skills needed to fence. Athletes are required to perform various lunges to determine their ability to return to an upright position following a lunge forward or to the side. They are also tested for arm extension, speed of movement, chest extension and balance. Athletes are assigned point scores based on their ability to perform the required skills. The higher the final point score, the greater the ability of the athlete to perform the required skills. Athletes classified as an "A" have more ability to perform the skills than athletes classified as either "B" or "C".
Equipment
Three types of weapon are used in fencing:
Foil—a light thrusting weapon; the valid target is restricted to the torso, the chest, shoulders, and back; double touches are not allowed
Épée—a heavy thrusting weapon; the valid target area covers the entire body; double touches are allowed
Sabre—a light cutting and thrusting weapon; the valid target area is the saddle line, which is from one side of the hip to the other and up, this also includes the head; the target area does not include the hands
Foil and epee events are open to men and women competing as individuals or on teams. Sabre events are only open to men. A team is comprised of 3 fencers from the same country and must include at least one category B fencer. No fencer is permitted to compete in more than two different weapons competitions in either of the team or individual events.
The target used for foil and sabre wheelchair competitions is the same as for able-bodied competitions. In epée competitions, the target is everything above the waist with an apron being worn below the waist to aid in cancellation of these touches.
History
The origins of fencing date back to 1200 BC. Fencing was one of the disciplines at the very first Olympic Games in the summer of 1896. Épée and Sabre events have been held at every Summer Olympics since; foil events have been held at every Summer Olympics except 1908.
Wheelchair fencing has been a Paralympic sport since the first games in Rome in 1960. Since then, the rules have been adapted to meet the advancements in techniques applied to fixing the athlete’s wheelchair to the ground. Canadian Wheelchair Fencers made their Paralympic debut at the 2000 Games in Sydney.
