Olympic Fencing

Fencing is competed in by both men and women at the Olympic games, by both individuals and teams. A country may enter up to three athletes per weapon in a team event and up to two athletes per weapon for other weapons.

For team events, eight teams, plus a team from the host nation (if they choose to compete) will qualify. Qualification will be dependant on the best four teams, as determined by the FIE official team ranking as of March 31, 2008 and the higest ranked four teams from each continental zone (America, Europe, Asia/Oceana, Africa).

For individual events that also have a team event counterpart, 39 athletes will qualify. All athletes qualified for the team competition, will qualify, the three highest ranked athletes as determined by the FIE will qualify, the seven highest ranked athletes by continental zone determiend by the FIE will qualify and the five highest ranked athletes from qualifying events in different continental zones will qualify.

For the remaining individual events, 24 athletes will qualify. The first 8 from the FIE individual ranking will qualify, the first eight from the FIE ranking dependent on continental zone will qualify and the first eight athletes from events in different continental zones will also qualify.

Individual & Team Events
Epee
Foil
Sabre

A women's team does not compete in the Epee event, and a men's team does not compete in the foil event.