Controversial fencing picks
A controversial list of seven British fencers for the London Olympics has been announced.
Last Updated: 01/06/12 12:27pm
A controversial list of seven British fencers for the London Olympics has been announced.
Friday saw the team for the individual events revealed and Sophie Williams and Louise Bond-Williams have been selected for the women's sabre, despite the fact Joanna Hutchison and Chrystall Nicoll are both ranked higher.
Only two of the seven actually qualified - Richard Kruse and Polish-born Natalia Shepherd in the foil - while the other five have been awarded host-nation spots.
Williams and Bond-Williams are joined by foilist James Davis, Corinna Lawrence in the women's epee and James Honeybone in the men's sabre.
Three more selections will be made on June 12 so that Britain can compete in the men's and women's team foil competitions at the ExCeL Arena.
Rankings
Williams and Bond-Williams are currently ranked 73rd and 58th respectively, whereas Hutchison is 38th and Nicoll 50th.
No British fencer has won an Olympic medal since 1964, but Kruse reached the quarter-finals in Beijing eight years ago and has been ranked as high as fifth in the world.
He is currently 18th, but only five weeks ago beat Italian world champion Andrea Cassara in finishing third at a Grand Prix in Japan.
"This will be my third Olympics and it's so special that it's in London," said the 28-year-old. "Qualification was only job one. My focus is now fully on achieving my life's dream - Olympic gold.
"We won the team competition at the test event in November last year, so we already have had a great experience at ExCel. Myself and the team will be working hard to repeat that in just over 50 days."
Davis, 20 like Williams, has risen to 42nd in the world and gets the second place in the foil that a year ago looked certain to go to former European silver medallist Laurence Halsted, the son of two Olympic fencers.
Youngsters
There is an eye to the future too in the selections of Honeybone and Lawrence, two 21-year-olds. Shepherd is expected to be joined in the women's foil team by Martina Emanuel and Anna Bentley.
Honeybone said: "There are no words to describe how excited and honoured I feel to be nominated by British Fencing for a host nation place.
"I hope to put in a great performance and also to carry that experience forward to further success in future Olympics."
British Fencing performance manager Alex Newton said: "We've got a great blend of experience and youth in the team.
"The two James's (Honeybone and Davis), Corinna Lawrence and Sophie Williams are all young fencers who will be looking to gain vital experience of the Olympic environment as they make the next significant step in their promising careers.
"I have every confidence that each member of the team will deliver a very competitive and credible performance.
"For the younger athletes the experience of competing in the Olympic Games will also benefit them greatly for Rio and beyond."
