October 17, 2014
Sydney
Sydney
The Head Coach Corner
Rise of a National Team
October 12, 2014. Sholto Douglas won the silver medal at the U23 Asian championship in Manila, Philippines. A "solo flight" from the initial pool, passing through a thrilling semifinal facing an athlete from South Korea and "landing" onto the grand final with another Korean who beat him by a hair's breadth, just 15/13
Undoubtedly a great result, something special, something to remember (let's not forget where we train, the conditions in which our guys work and most of all where we come from (our "closet", especially in foil and sabre, is hardly full of "gold").
But it is also something to understand, something to be de codified...and finally something to be shared.
Good performances and decent results in men foil have been "popping" out pretty regularly lately. Just to mention the most recent ones: Ned Fitzgerald 5th at the Youth Olympic Games, Matt Foster top 8 at the Asians u17 and top 16 at the Asians Seniors, Lucas Webber winner of 3 Junior Nationals, Matthew Donald winner of the last AFC Open and Uni Games, Sam Mooney Grand, Jesse Morris, Simon Capon and Pat Daley; all constantly improving and very talented. These guys are still very young; most are still juniors. They are ranked as our nation's best and they are fighting their way through the international
October 12, 2014. Sholto Douglas won the silver medal at the U23 Asian championship in Manila, Philippines. A "solo flight" from the initial pool, passing through a thrilling semifinal facing an athlete from South Korea and "landing" onto the grand final with another Korean who beat him by a hair's breadth, just 15/13
Undoubtedly a great result, something special, something to remember (let's not forget where we train, the conditions in which our guys work and most of all where we come from (our "closet", especially in foil and sabre, is hardly full of "gold").
But it is also something to understand, something to be de codified...and finally something to be shared.
Good performances and decent results in men foil have been "popping" out pretty regularly lately. Just to mention the most recent ones: Ned Fitzgerald 5th at the Youth Olympic Games, Matt Foster top 8 at the Asians u17 and top 16 at the Asians Seniors, Lucas Webber winner of 3 Junior Nationals, Matthew Donald winner of the last AFC Open and Uni Games, Sam Mooney Grand, Jesse Morris, Simon Capon and Pat Daley; all constantly improving and very talented. These guys are still very young; most are still juniors. They are ranked as our nation's best and they are fighting their way through the international
stage making Australia proud of them. Behind them there are at least another 8
talented prospects (Dall'Asen, Panow, Mentor, Whiffin, Lun, Spiteri, Black,
Golan etc...) who will soon "bother" their predecessors and team mates.
Congratulations to them (even the ones not mentioned here) , their coaches,
their clubs, their club's colleagues, their states and to the Australian Fencing
Team. Everyone together (including dedicated parents) have contributed to
achieving this "important" level, a real bench mark for fencing Australia.
Long ago we said that "fencing is an individual sport practiced in a team environment" and "the best structure/environment has to be created by the coaches". The results achieved by the Men Foil Australian Team have been "produced" in our local "laboratory". Nothing fancy, simply the best training possible at home, polished by well chosen tours and competitions overseas. These guys have grown at home with their club's coaches, with their state's coaches and within the national structure. Their performances are the product of their lessons, the bouts with all their team mates at the club, the squads, the camps and the "fights" at our national events. Their spirit is showing pride for their national team, they are fighting for their colors and their country. Their pathway is an example that already other athletes are looking at and following.
Their success is everyone's success, well done Australia!
Antonio Signorello
Long ago we said that "fencing is an individual sport practiced in a team environment" and "the best structure/environment has to be created by the coaches". The results achieved by the Men Foil Australian Team have been "produced" in our local "laboratory". Nothing fancy, simply the best training possible at home, polished by well chosen tours and competitions overseas. These guys have grown at home with their club's coaches, with their state's coaches and within the national structure. Their performances are the product of their lessons, the bouts with all their team mates at the club, the squads, the camps and the "fights" at our national events. Their spirit is showing pride for their national team, they are fighting for their colors and their country. Their pathway is an example that already other athletes are looking at and following.
Their success is everyone's success, well done Australia!
Antonio Signorello
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