From Cool Runnings to World Superpower

Breathtaking. Unexpected. Deserved.Where has American fencing been and where is it going? This book will take you on a journey along with American fencing from the beginnings in the times of the Founding Fathers, all the way through the lackluster first decades of American competition in the Olympic Games, and on to today where American fencing stands poised to build on its success and become a major player on the world stage. It's been a complicated road for the United States, one that's intertwined with world politics and changing social structures. The American story is one of immigration and tenacity. For the better part of a hundred years, American fencing was the undisputed underdog. Over the last twenty years, that's changed. The United States stands at the ready to take on the most prominent fencing superpowers and to win. The wins have begun already, with American fencers rising to podiums in World Championships and Olympic Games, across weapons and across genders.Noticing the change is one thing, understanding why it happened is another. How have American fencers gone from being at the bottom of the fencing barrel to rising to the top? What is unique about the American fencing story in comparison to established European fencing powers? Where is American fencing going and how will the past inform the future?Going from a nobody to a somebody is a classic American story. Here we chronicle the influences that have pushed the United States through a breathtaking and unexpected rise to the top of world fencing. From Cold War politics to competitive structures, generational learning to innovative techniques, here you'll find the wandering and thrilling tale of how we got here. There's undoubtedly a long way yet to go, but learning the path here is key to taking American fencing forward towards that well-deserved success.