Nine days of intense individual and team action have concluded the 2025 Bahrain Veteran Fencing World Championships, which included 911 fencers from 64 countries in their 50s, 60s, and 70s and older as well as a new demonstration category of 40s and older.
While athletes in the “Team” category were in their 40s and 50s, fencers in their 60s and 70s or older were featured in a new group called “Grand Team.”
Overall, the number of participating nations increased by 10% and the number of individual fencers increased by 6.5% compared to the 2024 Dubai Veteran World Championships.
“Fencing truly transcends age, and these Championships exemplify its enduring appeal and accessibility,” FIE Interim President Abdelmoneim El Husseiny said in a statement to the athletes. For many seasoned players, fencing is more than simply a sport it’s a lifetime endeavor. Younger generations are inspired by their steadfast dedication, which embodies the characteristics of a true “fencer.”
The Championships were opened officially by FIE Executive Committee member Ms. Velichka Hristeva (BUL). She congratulated the organisers and local organising committee on a “fantastic job well done” and offered praise of the impressive display by these “incredibly competitive and vigorous senior adult fencers, with so much history and so many stories in our sport”. “For me, it’s a real pleasure to be in Manama, to continue fencing and to compete with other fencers”, said France’s Pascal Jolyot, who won individual men’s 60 foil. “There’s a very pleasant camaraderie, with excellent fencers who are tough to beat, and going all the way isn’t easy at all, it’s challenging.” “Amazing, amazing, I’ve won before in 2023 and once you win, you know you can win, and that makes you even more nervous”, said the USA’s Julie Seal, who won gold in women’s 50 foil and bronze in sabre. “It’s more important to have faith in yourself than it is to be worthy to win.”
As part of the Championships, an FIE Roundtable was held on Nov. 18 entitled “Veteran Fencers as Role Models: Health, Responsibility and the Future of Our Sport”. In addition to Ms. Hristeva, the Roundtable included a video statement by Khaled El Mekwad, United Nations Resident Coordinator as well as panellists including Paul Midgley, Team Lead, ITF World Tennis Master Tour; Joyce Bolaños, FIE Veterans’ Council and FIE Fencing and the Environment Working Group member; Antonio Fiore, President of the FIE Medical Commission; Rita Comes, President of the FIE Veterans’ Council; and Victor Bianchini (POR), active veteran fencer.