| The Olympics are in Beijing in 2008, how are | | | | fencers are chosen, the top 3 in the World |
| the teams chosen for the fencing competition? | | | | standings qualify, with only one fencer from |
| | | | any one country. The next 7 are pulled from |
| The mandated levels of athlete participation | | | | the Olympic zones as the top 2 from Europe, 2 |
| has led to changes in the selection process | | | | from Asia, 2 from the Americas, and 1 from |
| for the Games. Each nation is no longer | | | | Africa, again with only 1 fencer from a |
| guaranteed an athlete in each sport - now | | | | country. The remaining 5 slots are determined |
| nations and athletes have to compete against | | | | by a continental qualifying competition with |
| not only their countrymen, but against others | | | | 2 from Europe and 1 from each of the |
| in their region or continent for an Olympic | | | | remaining regions. |
| slot. | | | | |
| | | | What about Men's Foil and Women's Epee? |
| In the 2004 Olympic Games all of the men's | | | | |
| events (epee, foil, and saber) were included, | | | | A different set of criteria is used to pick |
| but two of the three women's events did not | | | | the 24 fencers who will compete in the Men's |
| hold the team competition. | | | | Foil and Women's Epee events. Because there |
| | | | is no team event, each individual will have |
| The international fencing federation (FIE) | | | | to qualify on their own merit and not on the |
| rotates the events which will sit out the | | | | ranking of their national team. The following |
| team portion of the Olympics, and for the | | | | formula is used to pick the 24 individual |
| 2008 Olympic Fencing competition, Men's Foil | | | | entries: |
| and Women's Epee will only hold an individual | | | | |
| tournament. | | | | The top 8 in the World rankings get their |
| | | | tickets punched (but only 2 can go from the |
| Who gets to go? | | | | same country from this set.) After the first |
| | | | 8 are chosen, the next 8 in are picked by |
| Athletes are competing for slots based on | | | | region based on adjusted world rankings. |
| their nation's standing in the world (for | | | | (There are 3 slots for Europe, 2 for Asia, 2 |
| team events) and based on individual world | | | | for the Americas, and 1 for Africa.) The last |
| rankings (for the individual events.) Here's | | | | 8 qualify based on continental competitions |
| a breakdown of what it will take for an | | | | where countries that haven't qualified any |
| aspiring swordsman (or swordswoman) to get a | | | | fencers on the first 2 rounds. In the last |
| ticket to Beijing: | | | | round, the allocation of slots remains at 3 |
| | | | Europe, 2 Asia and Americas, and 1 for |
| Weapons with Team Events (Men's Epee, Men's | | | | Africa. |
| Sabre, Women's Foil, Women's Sabre): | | | | |
| | | | Outlook for the United States |
| Team Events are comprised of teams of 3 | | | | |
| fencers with 1 alternate. A total of 8 teams | | | | Will the US earn a medal in 2008? |
| can compete in each team event (9 if China | | | | |
| fails to qualify a team directly). | | | | The United States earned Bronze and Gold |
| | | | medals in Women's sabre in 2004. Sada |
| The top 4 teams in the world standings will | | | | Jacobson and Mariel Zagunis are still at the |
| qualify directly to the Olympics. The | | | | top of the world rankings and are joined by |
| remaining 4 teams are chosen based on | | | | young fencing phenom Becca Ward, who last |
| regional qualification. The top team from | | | | year won the individual world championship |
| each region (Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa) | | | | title at the Cadet, Junior, and Senior levels |
| that is not already qualified will earn a | | | | of competition. The US is favored to medal in |
| regional berth. | | | | Women's Sabre. |
| | | | |
| The individual event is a tournament with a | | | | In the other weapons, the best hopes are with |
| field of 39 fencers. For the individual | | | | Men's Sabre as the individual team members |
| competition, the 24 fencers that competed in | | | | are posting good results for the season. |
| the team event qualify. After the first 24 | | | | |