A quick reminder to all regular humans who have a fencer in their life: *Fencing is really hard to do.*
It requires musician’s fingers and boxer’s legs. First off, you have to wield a flexible blade at a million miles an hour with *accuracy* while in constant motion, changing speeds, trying to get close to another uncooperative armed human.
Secondly, as if that wasn’t difficult enough, in two out of the three Olympic fencing disciplines you also have to convince the referee that your action was more correct than the other guys. You are simultaneously fighting someone and performing for the ref.
If the epee folks are looking a little smug now, remember that they compete in a formless void without the comforting elastic structure of right-of-way. Physics is their only friend. Poor bastards. No wonder they drink.
Basically, a fencer is always fighting with themselves (stress, fear, anger, doubt, etc.) and with another hostile human, while often trying to work *with* a third human. A runner just has to run as fast as they can; a fencer has to manage a very small riot.
amhrancas 