There are 10 events on the Olympic fencing program:

Men                                            Women

Individual Foil                               Individual Foil

Individual Épée                             Individual Épée

Individual Sabre                            Individual Sabre

Team Foil                                     Team Foil

Team Sabre                                  Team Épée

Fencing is one of seven Olympic sports that will take place at ExCeL (Exhibition Centre London).

London 2012 Storylines:
There are four changes to the fencing program since Beijing 2008:

IN: Men's Team Foil                        OUT: Men's Team Épée

IN: Women's Team Épée                  OUT: Women's Team Sabre

Fencing has been included on every modern Olympic program since Athens 1896.

One of the most accomplished fencers ever, Italy's Valentina Vezzali, is the winner of five Olympic gold medals in the foil. She is looking to add a sixth to her collection next summer in London. Meanwhile American Mariel Zagunis will look to make it three consecutive gold medals in the women's individual sabre with a victory in London.

Canada's Outlook:
Canada has never won an Olympic medal in fencing.  The closest to a podium finish was the women's épée team in Athens 2004 that placed fourth.

Sherraine Schalm is Canada's most successful fencer.  In 2005-06 she became the first Canadian to be ranked number one in the world.  She was also the first Canadian to win a World Championship medal, earning the bronze in individual épée in 2005.  In 2009 she bettered her own result, winning the silver medal in the individual épée at the World Championships.  London 2012 would be Schalm's fourth Olympic Games.  Her best individual Olympic result is a ninth place finish in Beijing 2008, which also marks the best placement by a Canadian (male or female) in the épée.

The Canadian men have not been as successful on the international scene as the women.  The last time Canada qualified for any men's team fencing event was Atlanta 1996.

At the moment, the top-ranked Canadian man in the world rankings for any event is Phillipe Beaudry, who is currently ranked 19th in the men's sabre while Vincent Couturier stands 28th. Hugues Boisvert-Simard is ranked 26th in épée while the country's top male foil fencer is Étienne Lalonde Turbide, ranked 48th in the world.

International Athletes – At a Glance:

MEN

Jose Luis Abajo – Spain (épée)

• 2008 Olympic bronze medallist (individual)
• 2009 World bronze medallist (individual)

Andrea Baldini – Italy (foil)

• 2009 World Champion (individual and team)
• 2006 and 2007 World silver medallist (individual)

WOMEN

Britta Heidemann – Germany (épée)

• 2008 Olympic Champion (individual)
• 2004 Olympic silver medallist (team)

Valentina Vezzali – Italy (foil)

• Has won seven career Olympic medals (5 G, 1 S, 1 B)
• 2000, 2004, 2008 Olympic Champion (individual); 1996 Olympic silver medallist (individual)
• 1996, 2000 Olympic Champion (team); 2008 Olympic bronze medallist (team)
• 2011 World Champion

Mariel Zagunis – United States (sabre)

• 2004 and 2008 Olympic Champion (individual); led a U.S. podium sweep in Beijing
• 2008 Olympic bronze medallist (team)
• Double medallist at 2011 World Championships, silver in individual and bronze in team event