Kaz Campe wins bronze at Veteran Fencing World Championships
For immediate release
October 26, 2015
Silver Spring, MD – On Friday, October 23, Kazimieras “Kaz” Campe, 78, of Edgewater, Maryland won bronze in Veteran 70 Men’s Epee at the Veteran Fencing World Championships, in Limoges, France. The event, which took place October 20 – 26, featured competitions in all three weapons – epee, foil and saber – with athletes going for gold in the 50-59, 60-69 and +70 categories as well as men’s and women’s team events for each weapon.
Kaz Campe is one of the most senior members of the 70 American fencers who represented Team USA at “Vet Worlds.” Seventeen years ago, Campe made history when he became the first American fencer to win a gold medal at a World Championship, when he took gold in Men’s 60+ epee at the 1998 Veteran Worlds in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.
Cample’s biggest takeaway from this year’s Worlds? “This year’s competition was tougher than ever. I felt it, and it was repeated by several other fencers from other countries.” Campe also thanked his coaches, DC Fencers Club Head Coach Janusz Smolenski, and DCFC Coach Robert Suchorski. “Their coaching prowess is tops,” he added.
Campe was selected to represent Team USA at the 2015 Vet Worlds based on his best two out of three results from the 2014-2015 season; these include a bronze in the Vet 70 Men’s Epee event at the December 2014 North American Cup, and a top eight spot at the 2015 Summer National Championships. A retired nuclear engineer, this was Campe’s 13th time at Veteran Worlds.
Campe’s weapon, epee, is based on the dueling rapier sword; as with a traditional duel, the whole body is the target. At his Vet Worlds event, Campe was seeded 16th out of pools, and advanced straight through four direct elimination bouts, missing the finals round by one point, in an 8-9 semifinal bout against William Osbaldeston of Great Britain.
Campe is a member of DC Fencers Club in Silver Spring, MD, and was joined by fellow DCFC member and three-time Vet Worlds competitor Valerie Asher of Bethesda, MD, who took 14th place in the Vet 50 Women’s Epee event.
A lifelong sport – veteran fencing in the U.S.
Whether late-bloomers or returning to the sport, American veteran fencers in their 40s through 70s are competing in increasing numbers since national vet competitive events were first organized in the 1980s. In the US, more than 5,000 veteran fencers are registered competitive members of the US Fencing Association, the national governing board for the sport.
About fencing tournaments
Fencing competitions in all three weapons (foil, epee, and sabre) usually consist of two rounds of bouting. In the first round of “pools,” six to eight fencers compete in a round-robin of 5-touch/3 minute bouts. Pool results inform the seeding of the next round of “direct elimination” or “DE” bouts (10 points for Vets), where winners of each DE round advance through brackets of 64, 32, 16, 8, semifinal and final bouts.
Beginner classes at DC Fencers Club
Each generation of fencing champions starts in a beginner fencing class. DC Fencers Club offers several beginner fencing classes on weekdays and Saturdays to introduce youth ages 7-16 to the Olympic sport of fencing. Beginner fencing class activities include games, footwork, fencing technique & tactics, competition, and new friendships. Classes are offered on a monthly, rolling basis. Visit dcfencing.com to register or learn more.
About DC Fencers Club
DC Fencers Club (DCFC) is the premiere fencing club in the Washington, DC area. For 25 years, DCFC has consistently produced national and international champions. We polish the skills of fencers who strive to compete at the highest level, and we encourage fencers of all ages and ability levels. DCFC offers instruction through classes, camps, workshops, and individual lessons. DCFC coaches have a combined 100 years of training, competition, and teaching experience, and they include credentialed fencing masters and National Champions. DC Fencers Club promotes excellence, sportsmanship, and safety in a friendly environment. Find out more at www.dcfencing.com.