Near Olympus: women's sport

An exclusive interview with a champion of women’s fencing.

It is a most elegant restaurant, with art-deco furniture, filled with paintings of its Patron, a cavalry officer, poet and occasional politician. You might call him a 1930’s version of Rupert Everett. He lived in Paris and Warsaw, and was the darling of the gossip magazines, known for literary statements like this one:

“ I’ve always chased after Love’s three forces: (oh!) pretty women, cognac, and horses.”

Bottle-green seats are framed by bronze columns, glinting in the first sunlight of spring. Bare sabres and cavalry lances line the walls.

It ended badly for our Patron. He became The Country’s President for a day, and then fled to America as an exile. On 1st July 1942, he jumped from the upper floor of 3 Riverside Drive in Manhattan.

She has arrived in this place, linked to swords and glory, dressed smartly in a navy suit with a double breasted jacket and oversize gold buttons, framed with shoulder length chestnut hair.

Gabriel: Hello. Thank you for joining us today. What will you have to drink?

Champion: Hi there. Let me see the menu. Oh, I guess I’ll have the pear infusion with honey and cinnamon, thank you.

Gabriel: Got it. It’s very good here, with oranges and cloves.

Champion: Perfect!

Gabriel: This series of interviews is called and always is Incognito – so we don’t reveal who you are. That way it’s easier to discuss deeper and more intriguing stories. What should we call you?

Elizabeth: I’ve always liked Elizabeth as a name.

Gabriel: That works well. Let's dive right in. Elizabeth, you are a champion fencer. You have spoken previously about representing your country during the Olympics. Could you tell us a bit about the differences between foil, sabre, and epee fencing?

Elizabeth: Absolutely. Each weapon has its own unique characteristics and rules. Foil fencing primarily targets the torso area, with touches scored using only the tip of the weapon. It's all about precision and timing and distance. Sabre fencing allows for touches with both the tip and the edge of the blade and targets everything above the waist, including the arms and head. Epee is more about strategy and patience, as touches can be scored anywhere on the body and both fencers can score simultaneously. Each weapon demands a different approach and skill set.

Gabriel: And which do you prefer?

Elizabeth: The foil. It comes from a French word, floret, meaning to touch or to graze.

Gabriel: Fascinating - I've heard that French is the official language of fencing. Can you elaborate on that?

Elizabeth: That’s right, French is the lingua franca of fencing, dating back to the sport's origins as a skill practised by European aristocracy. Many of the terms and commands used in fencing, such as "en garde" and "allez," are French. The French influence extends to the official organisation of the sport, with the International Fencing Federation headquartered in Lausanne in Switzerland.

Gabriel: But there is also some interaction with Italy?

Elizabeth: Yes – the original fencing masters came to France from Italy, before it was a sport. In 1580, Montaine wrote about the French that “we go to Italy to?learn fencing?and then put it into practice at the expense of our lives.”

Gabriel: Why fencing and not swordfighting?

Elizabeth: Fencing is a sport, and I wanted to work up to the Olympics. And to see the world, all of it.

Gabriel: Intriguing. But let's delve into your personal journey. I understand you grew up in the Old Capital. How did you first become interested in fencing?

Elizabeth: Growing up, I was always a bit taller than my peers, but this didn’t really affect me, except, as I recall, when I sang in the parish choir. For some reason I was conscious of it then. My dad really encouraged me to find my passion. I stumbled upon fencing almost by accident, joining a local club really to meet people. Also, given my slight height advantage, I could have done basketball or volleyball, but I really wanted to pick a sport where I could be an individual. The socialising was great, but then around the age of 16, I started to win my first bouts. I guess it ignited a competitive fire within me!

Gabriel: That's quite the transformation. How did your training regimen evolve from there?

Elizabeth: Once I tasted success, I became dedicated to honing my skills. I began training intensively, dedicating two hours a day, every day, to fencing. I sought out stronger and faster opponents, often practicing against the boys – this really pushed me to my limits. It was a everyday pursuit of physical perfection. At a certain point, it then becomes a question of psychological and mental fortitude.

Gabriel: And how hard was that?

Elizabeth: Sometimes very. My coach was great but wanted me to develop perfect form, superlative lunges and parries. It’s uncomfortable, sometimes painful. It took me to the edge – I cried under my mask but never let it show.

Gabriel: It sounds super intense. Your journey led you to major tournaments. Can you share a memorable experience from your competitive career?

Elizabeth: One of the most unforgettable moments was qualifying for a major tournament in Paris. It was a dream come true, but getting there was no small feat. My dad was really supportive, and drove me there in a 24-hour journey. Gruelling – we only stopped twice. It was a testament to his belief in me and the sacrifices we were both willing to make.

Gabriel: Did you become closer to him?

Elizabeth: I did. You make good connections when you share pleasant times. But the best ones come if you suffer together - and are able to deal with it in the right way.

Gabriel: Got it. After that, you moved to the United States?

Elizabeth: Yes, I got a scholarship at The Good University. But it was in the Mid-West and a million miles from anywhere so I moved to New York. I bossed it for a year, worked on social media, punched it out 18 hours a day. It was fine, but just for a year. I’d burn-out. I realised I needed to be a slow fire.

Gabriel: And your family joined you?

Elizabeth: Yes. One of my younger sisters – I have six siblings. She’s also fencing and is simply great.

Gabriel: What’s next for you?

Elizabeth: I’m back in the Old Capital, in the suburbs - with a garden. And still dreaming of the Olympics. It’s tantalising, but within reach. If not me, maybe my sister.

Gabriel: What’s the difference between hope and a dream?

Elizabeth: Hope has a reasonable chance of success, I think.

Gabriel: Exactly.

I pause for a moment and look around the room. Some new diners have come in – a nervous couple on a first date. He is in a suit, she has a purple dress on. The next table is also filling up with a business delegation. The two hundred kilo CEO is talking about how a Tesla can accelerate him to 100 kilometres an hour in two seconds. I scribble down this important fact and look up from my notes.

Gabriel: I think I have everything. Thank you. One final question. I read you were stuck in Mexico for a year during COVID. Would you care to say more?

Elizabeth: Absolutely not. It’s my mystery.

Gabriel: Now hold on. Did you go into the jungle and learn the secret rites of war?

Elizabeth: Mmmm-hmm. I couldn’t possibly comment.

Gabriel: A romance?

Elizabeth: I’m not telling.

Interview held at the "U Wieniawy" restaurant , 9 Pilsudski Square, Warsaw, Poland.