Wheelchair Fencing

100 paralympians compete for 12 gold medals

In a similar way to wheelchair basketball, wheelchair fencing became part to the Paralympic games from the 1960s onwards. It was actually established in 1953 by Sir Ludwig Guttman and was played internationally at the Stoke International games.

Although wheelchair fencing was popular in Europe from its inception in the 1960s, it took until the 1980s for it to become extremely popular in other parts of the world such as Asia and North America. As with traditional fencing, there are three main types of competition, Epee, Sabre and Foil. Critically, wheelchair fencers have their wheelchairs clamped into a secure frame in order to ensure that they do not move or fall over.

During the first round of every competition, competitors are judged, based on the results of nine specific hits. After this, the successful competitors go on to round two and progression is based on a best of 15 rounds. As with able-bodied fencers, the target areas are above the waist but below the head.

Wheelchair fencing has been part of the Paralympic games since 1960, but it wasn't until 1988 that a system of disability classification came into being, allowing competitors to compete on a more equal playing field. Since the classification system came into being considerably more athletes have joined the competition, including those with cerebral palsy, polio and paraplegia.