(Throwback) Athens 2004 Olympic Games - Individual Men's Foil Finals' Highlights

[@patrickflanagan8256]

I find this style of foil much more entertaining than the slow, pressing tactics that have become common. Bring back the old timing.

[@the_dauminator2966]

I really appreciate this. There are so many matches that have gotten lost in time before youtube. Keep making these please!

[@FencingInsider]

Thank you for your feedback. I'll definitely keep making more throwback videos!

[@rosselliscutti981]

@@FencingInsider can you post the first part of the final (when Sanzo went up 4-0)?

[@xDinomanx]

I forgot that this was in the era where flicking was such a central part of foil fencing. I certainly don't miss the fact that these guys were fleching at each other most of the time. XD! Still, there were some amazing hits. Although most of these guys are retired (Guyart, Sanzo and Ganeev), they were real powerhouses back in the day.

[@FencingInsider]

It's very interesting to see how fencing changes over time. From the old timing era, I really like the counterattack closeouts, especially when they're flicks. In general, one of the most exciting aspects of the sport is following the ways in which coaches and fencers adapt at every tournament.

[@weedywet]

Indeed. I take lessons from Renal Ganeev now, and he's amazing.

[@FencingInsider]

What a unique opportunity, weedywet! I fenced him once and it was great. He has so much experience.

[@weedywet]

@@FencingInsider Yes, and he's such a good guy. I was an international level A fencer but I stopped basically in 1974! I'm only just trying to (struggling to?) get back into it and finding Renal has been terrific. The game has changed so much.

[@xgskx5274]

Wow that was absolutely mind blowingly amazing.

[@jwst2024]

Foil? Flexible Sabre? Cutting Épeé? Heavy Reaper? Gripping Hotel? Trivago Btw I am not sponsoring Trivago :)

[@24maestro24]

the 13 touch from Brice it's just,,,, AMAZING of POWER

[@jadetea5837]

If I had a dollar for every time someone went for a flick, I could buy a plane ticket to Tokyo in 2020, bribe the members of the Olympic committee to let me fence, bribe the refs to let me win gold, buy another flight home, and would still have enough money to pay off the mortgage on my house. Haha, great video as always.

[@FencingInsider]

Thank you so much! Flicking for days 😂

[@flch95]

And that’s why FIE decided to change the foil timings. IIRC these Olympic Games were the last major tournament with the old timings. Nowadays we have more direct hits fewer flicks and overall slower tempo bouts.

[@noahz]

Flicking was so bad and pervasive in this era, there were kids who could only flick, could not do a straight thrust if you paid them. When the timing changed, not everyone adapted; many retired same year.

[@FencingInsider]

Yes, it was interesting how some fencers adapted while others didn't. Sanzo went on to win the world championships the very next year, and obviously Cassarà is still getting amazing results these days.

[@JohnSmith-cx8co]

Turns out you couldn’t

[@kerenaye1228]

I'm French and wasn't born but that's what I call fencing particularly foil Good job your videos are really great and sorry I don't speak English well

[@FencingInsider]

Thank you for watching this channel, I really appreciate it. When I was younger I remember I saw a lot of pictures from the Athens 2004 fencing finals... and then when I finally got to see the videos I was super happy! Congratulations to France 🇫🇷

[@DF_Fences]

That last touch from Guyart against Cassarà is probably my favorite touch from men's foil of all time. 2:40

[@minimothe7130]

thanks you men for that replay

[@FencingInsider]

I'm glad you liked the compilation! These are some of my all-time favorite matches.

[@flch95]

I miss this foil!!! This was how it was when I first started fencing!! I forgot how dynamic it really was.

[@FencingInsider]

These bouts were so intense! As much as I like how fencing evolves, I can appreciate and do enjoy going back to see bouts from the old timing. Great memories for sure.

[@kevinzhou7442]

This looked more like saber.

[@DonovanDeans]

3:26 LOL!!!! What's so smart about this is the referee couldn't even see it, only showed on the replay... And it worked! Provoked the riposte and whipped him like a viper. I have to say, mixed feelings about the changes but generally good. Yes, this was more fast and athletic like Sabre, but in my opinion this type of fencing back then did not lend itself nearly as well to complex actions. Yes, these men are amazing, but in my opinion the blade & footwork of the next generation like Meinhardt, Garozzo, Son (KOR), Matsuyama, Alex Massialas, the modern changes have forced elite foilists to become far better at actual blade exchanges and picking the moment. Controversial opinion.. But flicking to the shoulder, chest and back is not hard when the blade is as light as Spaghetti and the box registers so soft a hit it barely depressed the tip. Now, you need to hit the flick Very solid, and are punished greatly for rushing. This forces you to negotiate the blade a Lot more and pick the moment, aka more fencing less running and whipping. Is it as dramatic and fast? Maybe not. But I think the overall skill has risen as a response to the changes, it's not just a different style it's more difficult to score a touch now and so people have improved their footwork and blade work to make due. Overall the changes in Sabre and Foil seem to promote more technique, less athleticism.

[@dogestranding5047]

1:06 is 🔥

[@24maestro24]

After Sydney 2000 ,,,,,,Athens 2004 ,,,, well done Brice

[@edwardxiao1168]

3:28 did sanzo just do a taunt

[@yolkuluk]

Oh yeah and Brice said that such an attitude was a source of extra motivation to fight even harder and win!

[@zzebrook9767]

Nice concept thanks you !

[@mangacrush7166]

for me the Atlanta Games in 2004 are the best❤

[@sashamednis1260]

Please, make video about men's team foil rio 2016

[@ericdew2021]

That was all heart from Guyart.

[@JV-yd4qg]

The arrogance tho...3:28😆😆😆

[@stingoh]

Well, just mind games! I fenced Sanzo at the 1994 mexico worlds (beat him in the pools), he was anything but arrogant. But who knows...

[@aayankapoor1717]

Can you post the smeilfinal with renal ganeev

[@kevinludlow7561]

Fly-fishing by JR Hartley

[@christianalbertjahns2577]

Will you do Sydney and Peking Olympic too?

[@noahz]

Soooo much flicking

[@FencingInsider]

I don't know how Cassarà landed the one at 1:28, but my favorite is the one at 3:05!

[@akoskunfalvy3655]

Sanzo behaved in a horribly disgusting way. Shame on the sport, it's no coincidence that he lost.

[@t.i.p.s.official7562]

So foil fencing masks in 2004 don't have lame on it?

[@ericdew2021]

Not until 2009.

[@TheOkniman]

What this video shows is the failure of the FIE to reform and makes less errors since more than 20 years. Already errors on blade research, go forward with bent arm, "menace" with flicks, not enouth real attack, already not dialogue. => No problem of yesterday has been solved. (Apart : facility to touch and time to touch when already touched

[@garchompdude]

Charles Cadet almost like the rules evolve or something...

[@TheOkniman]

@Alan Smithee Je donne mon avis un peu partout effectivement. Je pense que notre sport a été perverti. "Appropriation culturelle", merci la mondialisation (et a la nullité ambiante) (qui n'a rien d'une évolution mais justement de notre incapacité chronique a bien arbitré, et au final de notre adaptation et uniformisation en tirant les gens par le bas)). Il ne reste plus que les règles ecrites que personnes ne lient ni n'appliquent. Je pense que c'est une honte et je m'indigne. Vous pouvez vous moquer, c'est votre droit (mais vous n'avez rien de mieux a faire que vous moquez de mon indignation (qui genere de la colère) et de ma profonde tristesse ?)

[@TheOkniman]

PS : 28ans d'escrime et je raccroche le fleuret après 1an sur le réseau a me convaincre qu'effectivement, il n'y a rien a faire pour changer cela. (La présidente de la FFE que j'ai eu au téléphone ma bien aidé a abandonné toute idée de résistance) Le système d'arbitrage est plus simple comme ça et tampi pour la logique martiale. Tampi pour des combattants comme moi, qui refuse votre système d'arbitrage débile (ou l'on favorise la double touche), nous ne sommes pas si nombreux de toute façon. J'accepte vos moqueries. Puissiez vous accepter que je pense que vous vous moquez de mes opinions tout en étant plus ignare que moi a ce sujet et donc que je puisse en n'avoir cure.

[@ritedjmorsli6727]

Oh lala c'est France ou Italy qui gagne ? En plus il parle français.

[@bartolomeopanfilo12]

👎🇫🇷 France mer

[@cloudnein3483]

Bro you watched this vid and seriously downing Guyart the dude is one of the best mens foilists in the history of the world