Swift & Wightman To Compete In Jr World Cup

January 17, 2024 | 0 Comments

Rhys Swift [16] and Fergus Wightman [14], representing the Bermuda Fencing Federation [BFF], will compete in the International Fencing Federation FIE [Fédération Internationale d'Escrime] Junior World Cup in Boston on January 20, 2024.

A spokesperson said, “Accompanying them as coach is Donald Treanor, who recently represented the BFF at the Veteran Fencing World Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida and the Pan American Veterans Fencing Championships in Montevideo, Uruguay where he won a gold and bronze medal.

“Both fencers compete in the Sabre discipline. Sabre employs a slashing technique with lightweight swords and matches are rapid, requiring agile footwork, fast hands and quick reflexes.

“Building on their international competitive experiences, with Swift previously competing at the Commonwealth Fencing Championships, London and the Arnold Fencing Classic, Ohio and Wightman at the Fairfax Challenge event in Fredericksburg, Virginia, both are looking forward to the challenges ahead.”

Swift said: “It is always exciting to fence against new opponents as they require constant analysis and strategy to figure out their techniques. The intensity and speed of the matches always dramatically increases in international tournaments as the people you meet there fence almost every day. I believe I can put up a fair fight thanks to my coaching from Mr. Semos and Mr. Treanor as well as the skills I have picked up from the Manhattan Fencing Club, where I briefly trained last summer.”

Wightman added: “The lineup includes athletes from China, US, UK, Europe, South America, all over. It’s a little daunting but I am excited too. Sabre matches are fast – anything can happen. Having a mindset that you can win, whomever you are competing against, is important. That is what I am going to focus on.”

“I want to extend my gratitude to Mr. Treanor and Mr. David Semos who are incredible coaches. The developmental nature of the club is such that regularly we will enter bouts against adults and I believe that really helps to prepare us well for tournaments like these. I hope to do our federation proud.”

Travis Stevens, of the Bermuda Fencing Federation, and the first fencer to represent Bermuda at the World Championships, said: “It is great to see young talent rise to fence at an international level for Bermuda. Both fencers are fast and that should count well in their favour given they are competing in the Sabre discipline. From all of us at the Bermuda Fencing Federation, we wish them all the very best”.

The Bermuda Fencing Federation holds training sessions between 7pm and 9:30pm every Wednesday at St Paul’s Church Hall in Paget.

Rhys Swift [left] and Fergus Wightman [right] at their penultimate training session before heading off to Boston to compete in the Junior World Cup.

Don Treanor after winning a gold medal in the foil and bronze in the sabre at the Pan American Veterans Fencing Championships in Montevideo, Uruguay.