This tragic accident in 1982 changed the sport of fencing forever. As a fencer, all of our equipment today has been changed by the accident. This is why I have been so familiar with the accident long before. Today I was overwhelmed with emotion when I read this learning that a story like this happened, 40 years later.
This accident was cited when I began fencing. I have seen many other instructors tell it to their beginners. I repeat this story to anyone also wondering "why all the gear?."
I had just started fencing in college in the Fall of 1982, and the gear we had was definitely not safe in hindsight. Our coach was scrupulous about safety, but how can you cope with a blade break from carbon steel? Kevlar etc wasn't a thing back then as I recall. The first time we learned flèche was exhilarating, but now seems like we were pushing our luck. And we were a D2 school without a lot of high quality fencers.
Modern polymer textiles are a beast. One time, my fencing coach had to replace the clip for the electric connector at the back of his jacket which had worn out and broken off. The tailor couldn't puncture it to sew in a new clip, and had to get some specialized equipment to perform the repaier.
Accidents can still happen, though, especially if a broken weapon slides into the sleeve. But still way safer than in the past.
What have been the major advancements in safety equipment since the 80s? You mention Kevlar (although I imagine it's more than that since Kevlar vests if I recall are not stab-proof). Have there been any others?
Most equipment doesn't use Kevlar anymore due to its weight, but they use similarly strong materials. There's also testing done at every major competition for mask and gloves. At the international level fencing blades are made from maraging steel which is fairly durable and breaks in a cleaner fashion. Freak accidents can happen but with the right precautions it's very unlikely.
A guy in the next strip had his mask puncture and the blade (saber) went into his mouth, and punctured through his pallet into his sinus. Could have been a lot worse.
This guy never let his mask dry, storing it in his bag, thus even the stainless will corrode. Thus mask testing every tournament.
There are standards for the amount of force the mask must withstand and punch test devices like these [1] to exert them repeatably. Officials punch a few times across the front and the sides, look for failure or severe deformation, and the mask passes for the event.
A sharp punch (like a center punch prior to drilling). It is pushed in with a certain force and the mask mesh can only spread so much; there is a groove on the neck of the punch that defines the depth limit. You do this on a few areas of the mask then date the side of the mask to indicate it was tested.
Agree. One punch test is nothing compared to the 20 - 30 times you might take one to the face (sometimes intentionally) in a single bout. Absolutely do not want that thing failing.
Based on almost zero specifically relevant knowledge -
The blade of a foil is a long, flexible metal rod. It is dull at the end, and it is expected to flex very heavily in normal use.
If it snaps, I assume you end up with a short metal rod with a sharp, jagged tip. (And the part that used to be the tip will go flying off somewhere.) That would be dangerous for the same reason a window breaking is dangerous.
> Everyone is talking about the "blade breaking" as a dangerous thing. Can someone please explain?
To add onto what other people are saying:
When a blade breaks, not only is there a potentially sharp point on the new end of the blade, but the blade that's left attached to the handle is probably more stiff - possibly quite a bit more stiff - than the original sword. This is for a couple of reasons:
1. Leverage: short things are stiff, long things are floppy.
2. Profile: I honestly have no idea if this applies to olympic swords, but in historical swords used for combat, blades will often be quite wide at the base and taper towards the point.
You are absolutely correct on both counts. Olympic fencing blades are wider at the base and taper down. They’re designed to flex mostly in farther half of the blade, the base needs to remain fairly stiff or the sword would be weak in parries (and would
flop around excessively).
Many historical swords taper in width, thickess, or both in order to improve handling. Distribution of mass matters quite a lot in how nimble a sword is, especially for historical swords which were heavier than modern fencing weapons.
the blade doesn't event have to be sharp to go through a mask. I had my mask pierced by a rapier with safety tip still attached. Hell, a blade may break while bending against a mask.
I've fenced on and off for 20 years, and the worst injury I've seen is bruises, thank goodness. My only concern these days is the blade breaking and sliding under the throat guard.
I cracked a rib twice foiling, and sliced the interior of my elbow open through the vest with an épée. The fabric didn't fail but the blade still pressured hard enough to get the skin open. Still have the scar.
All three incidents against beginners who were far too enthusiastic, and coming way too hard and way too close.
Beginners are the most dangerous to fence against in my experience. They don't move like you expect, they flail and flourish and smack you in weird spots with the flat of the blade. All the worst bruises I have gotten have been fencing newbies. It isn't their fault, they are still learning. But owww.
You're putting the mass of an entire human, with the force of a lunge, on an area smaller than a dime. There is a lot of force getting transferred during impact. Yes, the blade will flex to absorb some of that, but only some.
One was this very classic beginner move - you break both their time and their distance, suddenly they're wa too close, you fend yourself off time, and rather than trying any escaping maneuver as someone trained would, they just counter attack ; with short distance and your full weight already committed to the fente, not great. Teachable moment for everyone. An easy point to make, but risky on the safety angle.
The other I don't remember precisely, just that it was a tall brute who was just coming at me. Avoided him with cause every time after
Ouch! I haven’t fenced in a few years but IIRC that’s a red-card penalty (hitting the back of the head).
I was always fairly invested in not being an asshole so I never back-flicked in a tournament until I was 95% sure I could pull it off (practice on willing accomplices ofc).
So odd, I never expected for olympic fencing to be (or have been) actually dangerous. It always looks like the blade can bend at insane angles and that it could never harm anyone.
A lot of unfortunate circumstances must have come together to allow this to happen.
In fact, you are right, the mandatory regulations proposed for equipment after this tragic incident did turn fencing into one of the safest rival sports later on.
The blade bending at insane angles is the result of post-accident engineering to make sure this doesn't happen again at international levels. Training foils and beginner foils are made of cheaper steel that is a lot stiffer and breaks a lot sharper -- you are not allowed to fence in certain levels of competition with them at all.
Also, historical swords also could get very floppy with just the right amount of force...the movies lie to you somewhat.
