More than 300 of the world’s best sabre fencers will compete in one of the most prestigious events on the international circuit when the Absolute Fencing Gear New York Sabre Grand Prix is held from Dec. 13-14.
The first sabre Grand Prix of the season will feature the world’s best fencers from more than 30 countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Italy, France and Korea. Preliminary and direct elimination rounds will be held at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge. Semifinal and final rounds will take place at the historic Grand Prospect Hall.
"USA Fencing is honored to have New York selected as a host city for the FIE’s new Grand Prix series. These nine tournaments are a key component of the FIE's marketing strategy to showcase World and Olympic Champions in major cities throughout the world. Not only will fans get to see the best athletes in the sport, but the next generation of fencers aiming for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio will be in action as well," said USA Fencing President Donald K. Anthony Jr. (Columbus, Ohio) "New York is an iconic location and we're looking forward to having the world's best fencers compete for gold in one of the best cities in the world."
This season, the Grand Prix will feature both men’s and women’s competitors at the same event for the first time since 2010 with gold medalists from the 2014 Senior World Championships and the 2012 Olympic Games expected to compete in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Team USA will be led by two-time Olympic Champion Mariel Zagunis (Beaverton, Ore.) Zagunis, who won her fifth Senior World Championship title in the team event in July, will highlight a U.S. contingent of at least 12 men and 12 women that is expected to include her teammates on the squad that won gold at the 2014 Senior World Championships – Dagmara Wozniak (Avenel, N.J.), Ibtihaj Muhammad (Maplewood, N.J.) and Eliza Stone (Chicago, Ill.) On the men’s side, London Olympians Daryl Homer (Bronx, N.Y.) and Jeff Spear (Wynantskill, N.Y.) will fence in front of a home crowd.
Absolute Fencing Gear, one of the world’s premier suppliers of fencing products and equipment, has signed on as title sponsor of the event. Absolute Fencing has partnered with USA Fencing since 2012 as the organization’s Official Tournament Equipment Provider and also supports high school fencers annually through the All-Academic Team scholarship program.
“For the past two years, Absolute has been an excellent partner as the title sponsor of our World Cup in Chicago. As we prepare to host the Grand Prix, we’re looking forward to joining together with Absolute again to make this tournament a world-class event,” said USA Fencing Executive Director Kris Ekeren (Littleton, Colo.)
- The link to the official website of the event including Live Results is : www.usfencing.org/sabregp
- Fencing Grand Prix live stream through the FIE fencing Channel: www.youtube.com/user/FIEvideo
- Follow the “New York Fencing Grand Prix” on twitter : @USFencing
- Like the “New York Fencing Grand Prix” on Facebook : U.S. Fencing Association