Paris 2024: Can Italy's wheelchair fencing star Bebe Vio make it a hat trick?

Wheelchair fencing kicks off on September 3 promising some thrilling battles with the return of big names including Bebe Vio, Tan Shumei and Feng Yanke.

Wheelchair fencers compete in individual épée, foil and sabre events, A and B, plus épée and foil team events, both men’s and women’s giving a total of 16 gold medals on offer.   

In foil, fencers are only permitted to strike the trunk area of the opponent, whereas in the sabre and épée, anywhere above the waist is a valid target area. 

The event was first staged at Rome 1960, and Italy was the sport’s predominant nation until 1972. 

More recently, China has dominated winning 11 of the 16 gold medals on offer at Tokyo 2020 – and they’ll be hoping to do it all over again in Paris. 

Tan Shumei was a triple gold medallist in Tokyo with individual épée and sabre and team épée while Feng Yanke took double gold in foil and sabre. 

Feng is hoping to cement his status as a versatile and tenacious competitor. 

'Because fencing originated in Europe, China started quite late,” said Feng. “We have been learning from other countries to try our best to catch up with them, and even do better than them. This is our goal, this is what we’re aiming for.” 

The action takes place between 3 and 7 September at the Grand Palais, the famous historic site, exhibition hall and museum complex.  

Five stories to follow…  

Superstar Bebe Vio ready to live her dream 

Bebe Vio is a wheelchair fencing icon. The Italian shot to stardom on her debut at Rio 2016, winning gold in the women’s individual foil category B and a bronze in the women’s foil team event. Five years later, she defended her individual title and took silver in the team event at Tokyo 2020. 

Now she is laser-focused on making it three in a row – although she knows the moment of truth is brief.

“The day of the competition is one day in five years or one day in four years. On this day, you have to demonstrate everything you’ve got.” she said.  

“Once you’re there, it’s about a fraction of seconds. You don’t have to think, you just have to be there and leave it and fight for what you want.” 

Hong Kong seek strong return  

Hong Kong are a wheelchair fencing powerhouse, topping the medal table in Athens, finishing second at Beijing 2008 and second again for London 2012. But they failed to win any medals at Tokyo 2020, and will look to return to form in France.  

“It’s the history,” said coach Wong Kam Kau Karl. “We started really early among all countries. At the beginning of fencing development in Hong Kong, the coaches put down a lot of effort to develop the sport and the fencers had good commitment. Another advantage is that sometimes we train together with able-bodied fencers.” 

Look out for two-time Paralympian Chung Yuen-Ping Irene and Chui Yee Yu this time around.  

Great Britain’s Gilliver deploys tactics to win

Piers Gilliver won gold in the individual épée at Tokyo 2020, alongside silver in the team foil and bronze in the team épée.

Since Tokyo 2020 Gilliver has been on the charge, topping the rankings – and will enter Paris 2024 believing he can win more than one gold.  

He claims that wheelchair fencing is all about your mind. “It’s a very tactical sport, and I found that fascinating,” said Gilliver. “There is so much to learn beyond physical strength.  

“At the top level everyone is just as fast and can do the same moves – it all boils down to who is tactically smarter.” 

Iraq aim to prove Worlds not one-time glory 

The Iraqi team of Ammar Ali, Zainalabdeen Al-Madhkhoori and Hayder Al-Ogaili delivered a huge upset at the 2023 Wheelchair Fencing World Championships, beating China to win gold in the men’s épée. 

“We came here to fight,” said Ali afterwards. “The Chinese are a great team but I told my friend and my coach but we all do our best. We must do something. And finally it’s the gold medal. We are the first team to defeat them. 

“Now our ranking is number one in the world. I don’t know what to say. I think our country is very proud of us.” Repeat the feat at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, and they will be even prouder. 

Age not a barrier in wheelchair fencing

Yu Chui Yee of Hong Kong and Hu Daoliang of China each have seven wheelchair fencing gold medals, and will both make their sixth Games appearance in Paris.

For Paris 2024 there will be four competitors who made their Paralympic debuts at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, including Canada's Ruth Sylvia Morel who turns 68 the day before competition begins.

On the other end of the spectrum, 22-year-old Trinity Lowthian, also of Canada said that competing against and alongside the likes of Yu and Morel is inspiring.

"They have the experience, they know a lot more than I do. It makes me take them a lot more seriously,” she said.