Wheelchair fencing

Wheelchair fencing (also called Para fencing) is a version of fencing for athletes with a disability. Wheelchair fencing is governed by the World Abilitysport (formally International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation), which is a member of the International Paralympic Committee, and is one of the sports in the Summer Paralympic Games. The Paralympic Games take place every four years in different countries.

Dr. Ludwig Guttmann, founder of the Paralympic Movement, initially introduced Para fencing in 1954 at the Stoke Mandeville Games. Since then, the sport has participated in every edition of the Games.^[1] Para fencing made its official debut at the 1960 Summer Paralympics in Rome, with nine wheelchair fencers from Italy, including six men and three women. There were two disciplines including sabre and foil events.^[2]

Gender equality increased, leading to the women’s epee events being added to the Seoul 1988 Paralympic Games. During the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games, several events were included. The sport started developing and shaping a classification system, which was introduced – category A and B.^[3]

Para fencing saw a remarkable success in the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, by being the first Paralympic sport with sold out tickets before the Games. There was a new adjustment to the competition format, called repechage, which is a format that allows athletes to compete further for medals, even if they do not advance from the first take.^[4]

New events are going to be added to the LA 2028 Paralympic Games in mixed gender team epee and foil events.^[5]

With the development of the sport, a steady wheelchair fixed in place has been introduced, which also allows mobility, specifically designed for Para fencing. ^[6]

• The three types of swords and events are foil, épée, or sabre

• Protective gear includes long trousers, mask, gloves, breeches and a chest protector

Classification is a system that determines the eligibility of an athlete to compete for a certain sport and to group athletes accordingly for competition purposes. Athletes are grouped to compete against each other, depending on their common impairment. ^[7]

In Para fencing there are three classes of competition – A, B and C.  ^[8]

Categories A and B are classes participating in the Paralympic Games involving athletes with impairments such as spinal-cord injuries, cerebral palsy and amputations.^[9] Category C is a class, which takes part in World Para Fencing competitions.^[10]

• Class A (athletes with full trunk movement and good balance)
• Class B (athletes with no leg movement and impaired trunk and balance functions)
• Class C (athletes with a disability in all four limbs, not included in the Paralympic Games program)

In foil and sabre events, points can be scored by being the first to strike the rival in the torso area. In epee, both athletes may win points by striking each other. In the knockout rounds, the rival that strikes five times or most times during the last three minutes is the winner. In the final round, it is required to strike the opponent fifteen times within a span of nine minutes to achieve victory.^[11]

• Paralympic sports
• Wheelchair fencing at the Summer Paralympics

• IWAS Wheelchair Fencing Archived 2019-07-10 at the Wayback Machine
• Wheelchair Fencing on International Paralympic Committee website
• Wheelchair fencing at the Paralympics Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine