Fencing

Fencing is a combat sport which consists of bouts between two fencers armed with lightweight, blunt-tipped swords. The sport is primarily of three types distinguished by the type of sword used: foil, épée and sabre. Fencing has its roots in the development of swordsmanship for self-defence.

However, the modern sport was originated in the 18th century in an Italian school of fencing of the Renaissance and improved by the French school. Fencing was a part of the first Summer Olympics in 1896 with foil and sabre events and the épée event was included in 1900. Women’s foil event was first contested at the Olympics in 1924, épée event in 1996 and sabre event in 2000.