A chance to learn more than fencing

A group photo of athletes from China's top fencing team and the USA Olympic fencing team. [Photo by Chen Jia / China Daily]

Lei Sheng, the London-bound Chinese foil fencer, is out to change the stereotype that athletes need to be brawny and simple-minded.

"Fencing is a smart sport," the 28-year-old said. "It is the fighting ballet."

Lei, who will be leading Team China's fencing team in the London Olympics, is also a sophomore at Peking University, considered one of the nation's top universities.

"University studies and training in fencing is not controversial for an athlete, and it prepared me to better handle, analyze and regulate my emotions," Lei said during a friendly match between China's top fencing team and the USA Olympic fencing team on June 22.

The friendly was part of the USA-China Olympic Men's Foil Camp held June 15-25 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. China is the two-time defending world champions. Four years ago in the Beijing Olympics, Zhong Man's victory in the men's individual saber was one of the nation's crowning achievements.

Four of the seven Chinese fencers at the camp will compete in the London Olympics. Team China will vie for medals in all 10 categories - six team and four individual disciplines - in the Games.

Hundreds of residents came to the Olympic Club on the night of June 22. In addition to the friendly, highly ranked US national youth fencers from San Francisco presented a fencing demonstration.

Alexander Massialas, the son of Greg Massialas, the current coach for the USA Olympic fencing team and a three-time Olympian fencer, competed in the friendly match.

"It should be exciting," Greg Massialas said before his son's match. "My son's counterpart tonight will be Lei Sheng, who is a very powerful fencer."

The elder Massialas said he was impressed by how professional and powerful the Chinese fencing team was during the camp. He said his US team is equally strong, both individually and as a team.

"We have expectations for medals in the London Olympics," he said.

Zhao Chunsheng, the team administrator of China's fencing team, remains modest about the team's chances of striking gold. He said the Chinese team will fight "the best" in the Olympics.

Wang Haibin, the coach of the men's foil team, said the one-week training camp and friendly match gave the Chinese fencers a good opportunity to warm up for a match in Cuba, the last international competition for the Chinese team before the London Olympics.

"The fencers could adjust their competitive status in San Francisco before flying to Cuba and reduce the influence of jetlag," Wang said.

"Our fencers' style is quick response and dexterity, while American fencers are power-based athletes," Wang said. "It is a good chance to learn from each other."

As for the team's health, team doctor Chen Chang'gui said the Chinese fencers are "very healthy".

"The ankles and knees are the weakest parts of the body for a fencer, but our fencers are equipped with very good protection tools," Chen said.

Consul General Gao Zhansheng said the friendly match "provides a great opportunity for both countries' fencers to train together, to learn from each other and progress together" at the opening ceremony of the friendly.

He said the camp allows both teams, from the professional level to the youths, to meet and share connections. For the young Chinese fencers, the camp is not only about their skills but also their career paths.

chenjia@chinadailyusa.com