Camp brings fencing's national elite to Atlanta
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 22, 2005
by Karen Rosen
An elite fencing camp, even one with three Olympians, isn't all about "en garde" and avoiding the tip of a sabre.
Sometimes it's about trying not to get hit with a large rubber ball.
"Dodgeball is a quite popular fencing camp game, actually," said Emily Jacobson, 19, of Dunwoody, a 2004 Olympian and 2005 NCAA champion for Columbia.
"We're all pretty competitive people," Jacobson said.
More than 40 fencers signed up for the Elite International Sabre Camp on the campus of Atlanta International School. Morning sessions may also include badminton, soccer and basketball as well as strength, conditioning and agility exercises. The evening session is mostly bouting.
"You can't fence all day every day," said Mariel Zagunis, 20, of Beaverton, Ore., who won the gold medal in Athens as women's sabre made its Olympic debut. "You need to mix it up."
The fencers, who range in age from 10 to 23, come from all over the country and Japan, which has three fencers training for the World University Games in Turkey. The price is $1,245 with a hotel, $845 without.
"They're very self-motivated," said Sada Jacobson, 22, the Olympic bronze medalist and Emily's older sister, "so it makes a really productive and energetic atmosphere when you bring together 40 people who really enjoy fencing and want to get better and learn new skills and spend time with other fencers."
The 10-day camp ends Wednesday and includes the Nellya Fencers International Sabre Open Sunday. Olympic coach Arkady Burdan, who founded Nellya Fencers, promises it will be the "highest level of competition in the United States." About 60 fencers, including some outside the camp, will compete from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a demonstration at 3 p.m. Admission is free.
Fencers usually have little chance to duel an Olympian, but Zagunis and the Jacobsons have been taking on all comers at camp.
Said Burdan, "Two days ago, Sada said, 'Who wants to fence?' She had a line. She stayed on the strip three hours and fenced without stop."
The three Olympians, who have faced each other for years at competitions --- although none of them crossed sabres at the Olympics --- also have a rare chance to undergo intensive training together.
Zagunis, who is staying with the Jacobsons, said, "I seriously feel like the blond daughter of their family."
They form the core of a U.S. team favored for the team gold in 2008. In Athens, women's sabre was not a team event.
"The popularity in the United States grew after our two medals," said Ed Korfanty, the national women's sabre coach. He coaches Zagunis and up-and-comer Becca Ward in Oregon.
"What I've noticed is a lot of girls are really excited to meet us and they want to start working harder and harder," said Zagunis.
She said parents of both boys and girls are interested in hearing about how she trained at a young age.
They could find out firsthand at camp. Burdan plans to hold this camp every year.
