Vladimir Smirnov Biography

Smirnov won the gold medal in individual men's foil at the 1980 Summer Olympics. He won the World Championships the following year.

During the 1982 World Championships in Rome, Smirnov was fencing Matthias Behr of West Germany on July 19. Behr's blade broke during the action. The broken blade went through the mesh of Smirnov's mask, through his eye orbit, and into his brain. Smirnov died nine days later

Smirnov's accident was the driving force behind the significant improvement of safety gear in fencing. Maraging steel blades (instead of the carbon steel ones of the day), kevlar (or other ballistic nylon) in the uniforms, and masks two to three times stronger than the one he wore, and other safety rules, all came about because of his death.

Vladimir scream when he just won fencing game at Olympic

When his coach helped him and brought him to Hospital

Fencing Quotes

Hi Guys ! :) I will share Famous Fencing Quotes from all around the world

"Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno." "One for all, all for one." - Three Musketeers. 

"Hold your sword as if you were holding a bird in your hand: not too lightly to prevent his escape and not too tightly to prevent him choking." - Justin Lafauger

"Fencing is a game of subtlety, and bluff can be met with counter-bluff." - Charles L. de Beaumont

"The essence of fencing is to give, but by no means to receive." - Moliere

"Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even." - Muhammad Ali

"In this way it is evident with what consideration we should be regarded in the State, and how far the science of fencing excels all other useless sciences, such as dancing, music..." - Moliere

"Fencing is as much a mind game as a physical test. Even though you face one another through the mesh in the mask, your confrontation with opponents is eyeball to eyeball, with all the mental pressure this entails." - Terrence Kingston

"To look is not the same as to see, to see is not the same as to perceive. We perceive, really - on a higher, conceptual-functional level - only what we know, understand well and can give a name to." - Zbigniew Czajkowski

"The tactical preparation of a fencer is the main part in his development as a competitor. That is the most difficult part of his training buy also the most practical one." - V. Arkadiev

"Once a fencer has learned the mechanisms of basic fencing movements, the activity loses its primary, total physical requirements and becomes more of a mental exercise. Concentration, self-control, and quick decision command muscles and reflexes for successful scoring." - Michel Alaux

"Success depends to a great extent on the fencer's ability to deal with the opponent's game: to evaluate his strong points as well as take advantage of his weaknesses." - Michel Alaux

"Winning isn't everything - it's the only thing.." - Vince Lombardi

"Time and quality of work will provide better results than selection based on any champion profile; we don't select champions, they select themselves by work, passion, and determination to achieve the highest results." - Janusz Bednarski

"Come, Monsieur, salute. Your body straight. Lean slightly on the left thigh. The legs not so widely separated. Your feet together. Your wrist in a line with your hip. The point of your sword facing your shoulder. The arm no quite so stiff. The left hand about the height of the eye. The left shoulder more squared. The head erect. The bold look. Advance. The body firm. Engage my sword in quart and keep on. One, two. Recover. Again with firm foot. A leap back. When you make a pass, Monsieur, the sword should be thrusted out and the body kept well back. One, two. Come, engage my sword in tierce, and keep on. Advance. The body firm. Advance. Start from there. One, two. Recover. Again. A leap back. Parry, Monsieur, parry." - Moliere

"The secret of individual teaching lies in the master's ability to pass on to his pupil his own technique, precision, smoothness, speed, and sense of blade. His meticulous attention to detail, and his ability to use his pupil's physical possibilities to the best advantage, will either make or mar the subject which is his task to mould and turn into a fencer." - Roger Crosnier

"To the question of what a fencer has to practice in an individual lesson, the answer is: everything." - Zoltan Schenker Ozoray

"Maestro di scherma - Maestro di vita." "Master of Fencing, Master of Life." 

Semoga Bermanfaat

Fencing Fact

Hi guys .. i will share about fencing fact :)

Fact 1:

The tip of the fencing weapon is the second fastest moving object in sport after the marksman's bullet.

Fact 2:

Fencing has been included in every Olympic game since 1898.

Fact 3:

The fencing suits are white, because in earlier times, touching was recorded with a piece of cotton at the tip of the weapon dripped in ink.

Fact 4:

It wasn't until 1898 that the 4 minutes timing limit has been invented.

Fact 5:

President Theodor Roosevelt and Winston Churchill are former fencers.

Fact 6:

The first electronic scoring machine for fencing was invented in 1936.

Fact 7:

Fencing as a game goes back to as early as 1200 A.D.

Fact 8:

The categories of fencing under the Olympics are; Foil, Epee, and Sabre.

Fact 9:

Fencing is known for being the only combat sport with no weight classes.

Fact 10:

Many of the ballet positions are derived from fencing.