Wheelchair Fencing
Adaptive fencing is an exciting and highly inclusive sport that offers persons with disabilities in South Africa the opportunity to compete in a fast-paced, strategic, and elegant discipline.
Using specialised equipment and anchored wheelchairs, athletes participate on a level playing field where skill, timing, precision, and tactical thinking take centre stage. Adaptive fencing is open to individuals with a wide range of mobility impairments, allowing them to train and compete at social, club, provincial, and international levels.
More than just a sport, it builds confidence, discipline, upper-body strength, and mental agility — while offering a vibrant community where athletes can grow, challenge themselves, and experience the thrill of competition.
What Assistance are you Looking for?
1. About Wheelchair Fencing
2. Wheelchair Fencing South Africa
3. Rules and Regulations
4. Classification
5. Wheelchair Fencing Equipment
1. About Wheelchair Fencing
Wheelchair fencing has been a part of every Summer Paralympic Games since they were first held in Rome 1960. Introduced to the Stoke Mandeville International Games by Dr Ludwig Guttmann in 1953.
It is governed by the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS), who strive to develop wheelchair fencing across South Africa and Africa. Until recently Libya was the only African country with active wheelchair fencers.
2. Wheelchair Fencing South Africa
In October 2015 Wheelchair Fencing was introduced by the Klein Karoo Sports Club for the Disabled to 40 athletes in Oudtshoorn, South Africa.
Klein Karoo were keen to develop an inclusive sport suitable for people with a variety of impairments and found wheelchair fencing could open up those opportunities. Following a demonstration from Susan Agrella of a local able-bodied fencing club in early October, athletes tried the sport out.
In a short time following the official introduction, the club produced eight wheelchair fencing athletes aspiring for fencing success. The first competition for the fencers was in February 2016 in Cape Town, South Africa, with the eventual aim to represent their country on an international level at International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) World Championships and the Paralympic Games.
This makes the development of the Klein Karoo sports club the first of its kind in Southern Africa.
The club is also looking for opportunities to train coaches and officials to strengthen the infrastructure of the sport within South Africa & IWAS looks forward to the promising potential of wheelchair fencers from Africa as development and promotion continues across the continent.
For more information: Contact Le-Ana Olivier on 044-2720683 or 0825791254 | Address: Klein Karoo Sport Club for the Disabled at P. O. Box 86, Oudtshoorn, 6620.
3. Wheelchair Fencing Rules and Regulations
The competition takes place in the form of pool stages followed by direct elimination rounds.
During a contest the fencers’ wheelchairs are fastened into medal frames on the floor, allowing freedom of the upper body only.
Although fencers cannot move back and forth, the fact that there are no restrictions to upper body movement means duals are as exciting and fast as in non-disabled Fencing events.
Fencers record hits by striking their opponent cleanly in the valid area, with successful hits recorded by the electronic equipment.
There are three disciplines in Wheelchair Fencing, and they are based on the type of sword used, which include The Foil, The Epee and the Sabre.
In the Foil event, fencers are only permitted to strike the trunk area of the opponent, whereas in the Sabre and Epee, anywhere above the waist is a valid target area.
Bouts last a maximum of four minutes in the preliminary stages, with victory going to the first fencer to score five valid hits or the one with the most hits at the end of the four minutes. Bouts in the first round of competition are the best of nine hits. The top competitors are promoted to a direct elimination, where bouts are awarded to the first get to 15 hits.
In the knockout stages, bouts consist of three rounds of three minutes. The winner is the first to score 15 hits, or the highest scorer at the completion of the contest. In the event of a tie, an extra one-minute sudden death bout is held, with the first person to score a valid hit taking the contest.
4. Classification
Classification divisions are based on impairment conditions:
CLASS
CONDITIONS
CLASS A
Athletes with full trunk movement and good balance.
Classified as either Class 3 or Class 4 fencer.
These athletes have a good sitting balance, either with or without the support of their lower limbs.
Suitable for: Athletes with a low level spinal lesion, athletes with double above the knee amputation and comparable impairments
CLASS B
Athletes with no leg movement and impaired trunk and balance functions
Classified as a Class 2 fencer.
These athletes have a fair sitting balance and an unaffected fencing arm.
They most often have paraplegia or incomplete tetraplegia with fencing arms that are minimally affected.
CLASS C
Athletes with a disability in all four limbs
Classified as either Class 1A or 1B fencer.
This classification features at international competition but is not included at the Paralympic Games.