What is wheelchair fencing? Despite being similar to traditional sport, the wheelchair fencing retains many peculiarities. The modality is practiced in the male and female categories. In both, Asian and Eastern European competitors are the biggest world medalists.
With little tradition in the sport, in recent years Brazil has been conquering space in the Paralympics. Despite not having won a medal at the Rio 2016 Games, in 2012, at the London Games, Brazilian Jovane Guissone won gold.
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Adapted fencing for competitors with locomotor disabilities appeared in 1953. The person responsible for the emergence of the sport was the German physician Ludwig Guttmann, considered the father of the Paralympic movement.
It is one of the oldest sports of the Paralympics, having been present since the first competition, held in Rome, in 1960.
Until 1955 the rules of wheelchair fencing were still not completely defined. Thanks to the entry of the sport into the schedule of the Paralympic Games, France has proposed a new regulation, based on the rules of the International Fencing Federation (FIE).
Only four years after its debut, at the Tokyo Games, competitions were held in the three categories of the sport: saber, foil and épée. At first, women could only compete in foil. From 1972 they also began to compete in the sword.
In Brazil, the first records of the modality are from 2002, mainly due to the interest of people with disabilities. However, since the 90s, the athlete Andréa de Mello, who suffered a stroke and went to the United States for treatment, represented the country in sport.
There she got to know wheelchair fencing and despite living and training in the North American country, in international competitions she defended her home country.
Although administered by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Fencing Executive Committee, the sport follows the rules of the International Fencing Federation.
Sport competitions are basically made in three categories, differing, above all, by the type of weapon used.
Foil (male and female competitors): valid touches are those made on the opponent's torso, provided the tip of the foil is used.
Sword (male and female competitors): the valid touch zone comprises the entire body part above the hip. To be valid, touches must be made with the tip of the sword.
Saber (male competitors): valid touches can be made on any part of the opponent's body. Here, in addition to the tip, competitors can use the blade itself to touch.
In wheelchair fencing only people with locomotor disabilities can compete. The chairs are attached to rails on the competition track, which measure 4m long and 1.5m wide, with a non-slip floor.
Fencers are prohibited from moving the chair. If this happens, the competition is suspended and returned after returning to the proper position.
In individual competitions, during the first round, which lasts a maximum of four minutes, the competitor who scores five points first wins.
The next steps are three three-minute halves, each with a one-minute break. Whoever scores 15 points or has the highest score at the end of the fights wins. If there is a tie, there is an extension with a golden score.
In team competitions, whoever scores 45 points at the end of the match wins.
Although the weapons used in competitions are not lethal, it is necessary for athletes to use a series of equipment to protect themselves. Therefore, the use of a mask, protective gloves and jackets is essential.
In foil duels it is necessary to use a chair wheel guard. In sword competitions, however, the use of a metallic cover is mandatory to protect the athletes' legs and the wheels of the chairs.
As in most Paralympic sports, wheelchair fencing competitors are Classified according to the level of disability, in this specific case, the locomotor.
Class 1A – Athletes who lack sitting balance and have arm arm limitations. The weapon needs to be secured with a bandage, as there is no extension of the elbow with respect to gravity, and no residual function of the hand.
Class 1B – Athletes do not have sitting balance and there are limitations on the armed arm. There is also extension of the armed arm, however, without flexion of the fingers. Likewise, the weapon is fixed to the competitor's hand by means of a bandage.
Class 2 – Athletes with full balance when seated and normal cocked arm.
Class 3 – Athletes with good sitting balance and normal armed arms, but without leg support.
Class 4 – Athletes with good sitting balance, normal arm strength and upper extremity support.
Minimum limitations – disability of the lower limbs comparable to amputation below the knees. In case of brain injuries, or even, in case of doubt, the complete evaluation will be made based on observation of the athlete during the competition.
