THE BIG INTERNATIONAL FENCING COMPETITION AT THE YEAR OF THE FIRST OLYMPIC GAMES

Abstract

Due to the proximity of the dates, in 1896 fencers had to make a choice, where to go to compete, at this time an amateur Olympics event or for grand prize at World Expo in Budapest. The best fencers had chosen the second opportunity. According to Carpathian experts, the Keresztessy fencing system was the best in the whole world, so the audience couldn’t wait to be successful on the competition. This was the first time when the Carpathian and Italian fencing styles were compared. The belief in the invulnerability of Carpathian athletes was shattered when no one of them came to the top of the podium as a result of the competition. At the first major international competition Carpathian fencers were forced to their knees. Received: 2022 March 1th; Revised: 2022 March 09; Accepted: 2022 April 10; Available online: 2022 May 5; Available print: 2022 May 30.

Keywords

• Keresztessy, Italo Santelli, fencing styles, Millenial contest.