Fencing

Fencing is a combat sport. It is the art of hitting an opponent with the point or edge (thrust and cut) of a bladed weapon on valid parts without being hit. Three types of weapons were used: the epee (an Olympic discipline since 1896 – but which was finally introduced in 1900 due to a lack of a shooter – for men and 1996 for women), the sabre (an Olympic discipline since 1896 for men and 2004 for women) and foil (an Olympic discipline since 1896 for men and 1924 for women). In competition, the three weapons are gendered: there is a distinction between women's and men's epee, women's and men's foil and women's and men's sabre, whether in individual or team competition. There are therefore twelve of them.