LAUSANNE, Switz., June 10, 2020—The FIE is saddened to be informed of the passing of Jean Link (LUX) at the age of 81. Mr. Link was born on Sept. 3, 1938 and began fencing at age 10. He participated in the Junior World Championships at age 14 and University Games at 15. In 1958 in Bucharest, he became the men’s foil junior world champion and again in Paris in 1959. In the same year, Mr. Link became individual and team military world champion.
“With Jean Link, fencing loses a great personality”, said Pascal Tesch, president of the Luxembourg Fencing Federation.
In 1959, Mr. Link was voted “Best Sportsman” of the year by the Luxembourg Association of Sports Journalists. The next year he went on to compete in the 1960 Rome Olympic Games.
Soon after, he left world fencing to be part of a family business while continuing to follow his competitive spirit and pursue a variety of sports. In 1967, he was a founding member of Luxembourg’s Tennis Spora, which is still today one of the country’s largest tennis clubs.
Mr. Link returned to fencing and competed in the 1999 Siofok (Hungary) Veteran Fencing World Championships, where he took gold in men’s 60-plus epee and bronze in men’s 60-plus foil. At the 2002 Tampa (Fla., USA) Veteran Fencing World Championships he won silver in men’s 60-plus foil.
Jean Link’s lifelong, immense love for fencing was legendary and he was very often present at national and international events even when not competing.
On behalf of our world fencing family, we extend our deepest condolences to Mr. Link’s family and friends, the Luxembourg Fencing Federation and the European Fencing Confederation, and express our deepest sympathy at this difficult time.