COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — They’re calling it “the best show on the Strip” and this week Columbus is hosting USA Fencing Summer Nationals with more than 6,200 athletes competing at the Convention Center.
The event marks a pivotal moment in the development of fencing and is expected to be the biggest event in the sport’s history.
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There’s a lot at stake on the 105 athletic strips inside the Greater Columbus Convention Center. For many, this is where future Olympians are born.
“This tournament puts them in a position to get on the next world championship team, whether they’re a junior cadet or a senior, and it’s the first step toward the next Olympics,” said Ohio State head coach Donald Anthony Jr. “And for our young fencers, this is the national championship, so they walk away from here as national champions.”
The competition is fierce. Three types of weapons are used in fencing: epee, sabre, and foil.
For Ayush Shah, a rising sophomore fencer at Ohio State University, epee is the easiest discipline to understand.
“Basically you target any part of the body and stab your opponent. You hit them anywhere on the body,” Shah said.
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But a fencer’s mindset is formed long before they step onto the arena, also known as the piste.
“These games aren’t won on the strip,” Anthony said. “They’re won before you get here. It’s practice. It’s mental preparation. What’s really important on the strip is being able to maintain a certain level of composure and intensity and do what you do best. If you can do that, it becomes a question of who’s smarter, who has the best tactics, who’s in the best condition.”
This will be the second time in five years that Columbus will host the summer national championships, putting the spotlight on a region with a strong sporting heritage. Ohio State has sent 15 fencers to the Olympics, four of whom competed in the last Summer Games in Tokyo.
“Many people in other countries don’t know about these universities, but Ohio State is known for producing great Olympians and the strong ties that are built here,” Shah said.
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And in Olympic years, the summer national championships serve as a warm-up for the games in Paris.
“It’s an opportunity to get more people involved who are starting to think about the Olympics,” Anthony said. “Now we’re growing and getting more attention, and my philosophy has always been to make the sport accessible to people who haven’t had the opportunity to watch it, participate in it or appreciate it.”
Competition at the convention center will continue through Monday, and several Olympian fencers from Team U.S., including Lee Kiefer and Myles-Chumley-Watson, will be on hand to meet fans. Spectators can attend the event for free.
