The Power Behind Men's Sabre Fencing Two-Time Victory: 'Foot Fencing' and Teamwork

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[Image source=Yonhap News]

The men's sabre fencing team's consecutive Olympic golds in the team event are a valuable achievement made possible by 'foot fencing' and teamwork. They became one as they cheered each other on with quick footwork.

Oh Sang-wook (25, Seongnam City Hall), Gu Bon-gil (32), Kim Jung-hwan (38, both Korea Sports Promotion Foundation), and Kim Jun-ho (27, Hwaseong City Hall) defeated Italy 45-26 in the men's sabre team final at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held on the 28th at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. They achieved back-to-back Olympic golds for the first time in nine years since the 2012 London Games. The men's sabre team event was not held at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games due to event rotation.

The men's sabre team boasts world-class skills. They won three consecutive world championship team titles from 2017 to 2019. In 2019, they participated in ten international competitions and won nine times. They are currently ranked number one in the world. The team aggressively pressured Italy (ranked third in the world) from the start to prove this.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In particular, Oh Sang-wook, who fenced second, neutralized Aldo Montano with his characteristic long lunge at a narrow 5-4 lead. He added five points without conceding any, seizing the initiative. Gu Bon-gil and Kim Jung-hwan, who took over the baton, eased the pressure and smoothly controlled the match. They each caught Enrico Berr? and Montano off guard, widening the score gap.

The team, riding the momentum with substitute Kim Jun-ho fencing eighth instead of Kim Jung-hwan, secured the championship early. This level of skill was unimaginable back at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At that time, attention in Korean fencing was focused on foil and ?p?e. Sabre received almost no attention. Although it was a fast and delicate discipline suited to Korea, it was believed that referees had too much influence.

However, players' skills improved steadily, and with SK Group taking over sponsorship, opportunities to participate in international competitions increased. Video replay was introduced to minimize unfair referee interventions, fostering a belief that they could compete. The team developed 'foot fencing' as a strategy to target European players, who tend to rely on hand movements due to weaker lower bodies. The plan was to penetrate with quick steps.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Team captain Kim Jung-hwan said, "Fencing is often thought of as an arm sport, but the lower body is important," adding, "It's no different from playing tag with your feet." SBS commentator Won Woo-young also said, "'Foot fencing' was a decisive strategy that worked again," and "Opponents know it but still fall for it."

The core of 'foot fencing' is agility. As one ages, physical limits inevitably arise. However, the only player to win a (bronze) medal in the individual event at this tournament was Kim Jung-hwan, who once announced his retirement but returned. After thousands of thrusts, cuts, and blocks, he developed insight to see through various patterns.

Seeing their senior forget fatigue and injury risks, the juniors found strength. Kim Jun-ho tore a tendon in his left foot at the 2019 World Championships but endured tough rehabilitation to share this glorious moment. He said, "I approached it with the mindset of learning even one thing more from my seniors."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

World number one Oh Sang-wook steadied his mind by listening to Kim Jung-hwan's advice. After returning from the FIE Sabre World Cup in Budapest, Hungary, last March, he was diagnosed with COVID-19. He struggled so much that he lost 7 kg and found it difficult to focus on training. Each time, Kim Jung-hwan shouted "Fighting" in a loud voice. Even when the match was going well, he did the same. When the score gap against Italy widened significantly that day, he said, "Don't get carried away," calming the atmosphere. Oh Sang-wook said, "Even when leading 44-26, I didn't relax," adding, "I really thought we had to catch them until the very end."

Gu Bon-gil has led the men's sabre team with Kim Jung-hwan for over ten years. Now, they can tell how to play just by looking into each other's eyes. When asked the secret to their consecutive Olympic golds, he answered without hesitation, "Teamwork." "I was worried because my performance dropped in the individual event. I kept telling myself to hold on a little longer. I couldn't trust myself, but my juniors and seniors trusted my body. I want to give credit for overcoming and enduring that."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.