It’s a French specialty, almost a private preserve. Since the revival of the Olympic Games in 1896, France has entered 655 athletes in fencing, a record, and obtained 123 medals including 44 gold, in second place behind Italy. It is the discipline which has brought in the most medals for the French team, and in 2024, expectations will be high. The writing of 20 minuteswhich set out to introduce you to Olympic sports on video, could therefore not miss this discipline.
During a gathering of the French team at INSEP, our journalist was able to learn about sabre, one of the three disciplines of fencing, which is distinguished by the importance of taking the priority before touching your opponent, whether with the tip or the flat of the blade. During one session, the European saber vice-champion Sara Balzer taught us the vocabulary of her equipment (mask, jacket), the rules of priority and the correct placement of the feet.
On arrival, after about ten minutes of crossing swords, your heart rate is up and you sweat quickly under the mask, which obscures your view. “There’s adrenaline, it’s a combat sport, that’s also what I like,” confides Sara Balzer. Olympic vice-champion in teams in Tokyo, the current world number 1 is aiming for gold next summer in Paris.