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Fencing |
| From a spectator's point of view, the most striking
feature of fencing events is that all athletes are competing in
wheelchairs that are fastened to the floor. However, these chairs allow
the fencers freedom of movement and the activity is as fast-paced as in
traditional fencing competitions.
Fencing for athletes in wheelchairs was first introduced by Sir Ludwig Guttmann in 1953 and it was included in the Paralympic Games in Rome, 1960. Since then, the rules have been gradually adapted according to advances in the techniques of fixing the wheelchair to the ground. Men and women who are wheelchair athletes, amputees, or athletes with cerebral palsy display remarkable agility and skill in these international competitions. Individual and team events are included in foil, épée (men and women) and sabre (men). |
