NEW YORK WORLD CUP OF FENCING BEGINS TOMORROW!

Here we go! GO TEAM USA! Wish us LUCK!

PRESS RELEASE ON EVENT:

From June 24 to June 26, 2010,  the New York Athletic Club will partner with the US Fencing Association and the World Fencing Federation, to host one of only ten international Olympic Qualification events for London 2012.    All matches will be held at the New York Athletic Club’s venerable location on Central Park South.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist and the top ranked fencer in the world Mariel Zagunis, 2008 Olympic silver medalists James Williams and Tim Morehouse, and the rest of the US team will compete for spots on the 2012 US Olympic Team.  The competition will also feature hundreds of the best fencers in the world and Olympic hopefuls from over 30 countries for individual and team qualification events.  This is the first time a fencing world cup will be held at the New York Athletic Club since the 1980s and is the first international Olympic qualification event for any sport ever to be held at the club.

FOR MORE INFO: NYAC.Fencing.Club@gmail.com
or at US Fencing Website: www.usfencing.org  

Olympian Jaime Marti has Saber Hand Pierced Through with blade…he’s out for NY World Cup.

Spanish olympian Jaime Marti had his hand run-through with a saber at practice today. The blade was unbroken and went through an all-star glove with no holes.

He wants everyone to know he is ok. The saber went straight through his hand and luckily missed all the nerves and tendons, but he will be out for the NY world cup and Spanish National Championships. I’m Hoping he will be back for the European zonals. Let’s all send him well wishes for a quick recovery.

This injury is just another example that the gloves do not meet a good safety standard.

Will it take someone dying before they implement better safety standards for fencing gloves? Athletes are at risk. FIE: You must do something ASAP! (And, the recent safety precaution of ensuring gloves have no holes is not enough)

(UPDATE) PICTURE OF JAIME’S FENCING GLOVE:
http://timmorehouse.wordpress.com/2011/06/23/jaime-martis-torn-fencing-glove/

Team USA Women’s Saber: Wozniak Wins Silver and Schneider Bronze!

Gent Saber World Cup Podium: Dagmara Wozniak (left) won silver and Daria Schneider (far right) won bronze!

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Ibtihaj Muhammad also finished in the top-8 losing a close one to 2009 Junior World silver medalist Irene Vecchi (ITA), 15-13.  Mariel Zagunis finished in the top-32.

Great day for Team USA! Congrats!

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More details at: http://www.fencing.net/4354/dagmara-wozniak-2nd-in-gand/

The Fencing Fist Pump is Better than the New Jersey One

The fencing fist pump says “I got this point for sure!”

As a side note, the look says, “I hope the referee doesn’t screw me!” (lol)

How To Watch Saber Fencing | Video from Fencing Masters 2010

This was taken on a flip cam at the Fencing Masters.   Start watching about 1:20.

Cool Fencing Video of the Day: Dairy Queen’s Fencing Commercial!

I can’t remember the last time I actually eat at Dairy Queen, but kudos to them for a funny fencing commercial!

Another brand jumps on the fencing train!

Special thanks to Ryan Arieta for alerting me to this! You should follow him on twitter and thank him! @LeftyFencerRyan

If You’re a Fencer, You May Have a Dog Named after you in Spain

Mariel Zagunis has a saber blade named after her so it is not surprising that there is now a dog named after her as well!   She amongst other fencers including Olympians Montano, Tarantino, Sanzo, Pina and Tan each have one of these magnificent dogs bearing their names in Spain.  The dogs are Canary Island Mastiffs.

The dogs are bred by a fencing referee who in an ode to the sport he loves has named many of his animals after fencers!  You can check out his website www.fencingdogs.com and if you’re a fencer you too may have one named after you!  He also breeds some beautiful Pugs.

No Morehouse one that I could find, but I can always dream!

This is Tarantino...Apparently he and the Montano dog didn't get along and had to be separated! Tarantino (the dog that is) now resides in Atlanta, GA!

You can check out a few more pictures of the dogs here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.183696011682174.60501.144092338975875

VIDEO: Fencer Falls Down Stairs During Match aka The Dumbest Location For a Fencing Strip EVER!

To make matters worse there are actually STAIRS directly through that doors opening so the fencer not just went out of the fencing room, but he fell down a whole flight of stairs!

MASSIVE FAIL here for the designers of this fencing club in Spain!  I Hope the fencer was alright.

Question, I have a feeling I may not have utilized the best title or caption for this video…any thoughts on funnier ones?

Cool Fencing Picture of the Day: Madrid World Cup Poster Unveiled

7 USA Fencers Advance at Trofeo Luxardo Men’s Saber World Cup

Padua, Italy — The largest men’s saber world cup in 8 years (160+ fencers) saw 7 of the 12 team USA men’s saber fencers advance on day 1.    Tim Morehouse (6-0) and Jeff Spear (5-1) advanced directly from the pools to the 64 by finishing in the top-16.   Daryl Homer (4-1), Ben Igoe (4-2), James Williams (4-2), Avery Zuck (4-2) and Mike Etropolski (3-3) all advanced out of the pools and defeated strong opponents to in direct elimination matches to advance.

In the elimination matches to make top-64, Ben Igoe beat Pundyk (UKR) 15-9, James Williams defeated Boyko (UKR)15-14 , Daryl Homer defeated Mokretsov (RUS)  (15-12), Mike Etropolski defeated Gelatanu (ROM) 15-13 and Avery Zuck defeated Mayer (CAN) 15-10.

Andrew Fischl, John Jalesky and Oleg Ochocki failed to advanced from the pools and Dan Bak fell in his second elimination match to advance.

Team USA fences again in the top-64 tomorrow.   In the first round, Ben Igoe faces off against Montano (ITA), Homer fencers Decsi (HUN), Williams fences Kim (KOR), Tim Morehouse fences Hartung (GER), Jeff Spear fences Riccadeli (ITA),  Mike Etropolski fences Tarrantino (ITA) and Avery Zuck fences Kovalev (RUS).

WISH US LUCK!