Second only to the Olympics in international prestige, the World Fencing Championships have begun in Catania, Sicily.
The annual competition has been taking place since 1921. Originally a European tournament, in 1937 a group of Italian fencers requested that the competition bestow world titles. Since then, the competition has granted global recognition to competitors in three events: foil, épée and sabre.
As the tournament heats up in Catania, Italy enters the competition with the most past wins of any nation in the world. Italy has the greatest number of Gold (94), Silver (94) and Bronze (107) medals, for a total of 295 medals. Hungary, the nation with the second most total medals, lags far behind with a total of 255 wins.
From Sicily to the Alps, Italy continues to produce fencing champions. Among the many notable talented fencers, Valentina Vezzali of Jesi, Marche has won 19 titles at previous World Fencing Championships. She has also won five Olympic gold medals, in addition to both a silver and a bronze Olympic finish.
Another Italian star to keep an eye on is Margherita Granbassi, from Udine, who beat teammate Valentina Vezzali at the World Championships in 2006 to win the gold medal in the foil event.
Finally, Giorgio Avola is sure to be a hometown favourite with the event being held in Sicily this year. Born in Modica in 1989, Avola is a young talent with one World Championship gold medal already under his belt.
The 2011 World Fencing Championships will run until the 16th of October. For more information on this year’s events in Catania, including results, check the 2011 website.
