British fencing was only represented by 3 fencers in Beijing in 2008, but 2012 promises a better showing for the fencers of the UK. In just three years they’ve managed to garner 13 World Cup medals, 4 European Championships, and a team medal in a major championship. That’s a lot of progress in a short period of time.
British fencers hope to break a 47-year Olympic medal drought. To help prepare, the Brits will compete at the European Championships to be staged at Sheffield, UK this year.
“Our focus is on automatic qualification and this news will not change that. However, it does mean that we will have full teams in some events where we might not have had and that British Fencing have the chance to give Olympic experience to those who may have a medal chance in 2016,” said sabreur Chrystall Nicholl, who won two bronze medals in World Cups in Germany and Austria last season.
The best hopes for a medal are pinned on the Men’s Foil Team. The team finished a disappointing 8th place at last year’s World Championships in Paris, France. The team was missing their top fencer, Richard Kruse, who was injured prior to the World Championships.
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