Fencing - Ten Facts

Come to our beautiful fencing pavilion, tucked in the forest above Lake George and try this exciting and challenging sport of intelligence and skill.

1. Fencing is one of only four sports to have been featured in every modern Olympics. It made its debut in 1896 when the program consisted of three men’s events.

2. 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.

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

4. The tip of the fencing weapon is the second fastest moving object in sport; the first is the marksman’s bullet.

5. At least one ancient Egyptian temple features a painting of a fencing match. The painting dates from 1190 B.C.

6. Many of the ballet positions are derived from fencing.

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

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

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

10. The world’s oldest fencing club is the Confrérie de Saint-Michel, which was established in 1613 in Ghent, Belgium.