- Title: GERMANY: OLYMPICS 2012 - Fencing team can hope for a medal in London
- Date: 20th July 2012
- Summary: BONN, GERMANY (JULY 16, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR FENCING HALL SIGN READING: 'OLYMPIA CENTRE RHINELAND' VARIOUS OF FEMALE FENCER DURING TRAINING HENNEF, GERMANY (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (German) FENCER AND OLYMPIC MEDALLIST, BRITTA HEIDEMANN, SAYING: "It became apparent over the last years that the group of the best in the world has become much larger. It not only has moved closer together but there are also more athletes who have a chance to finish quiet well. I think that in important competitions like the Olympics only the very best succeed, that has become apparent in the last games as well as in 2004 and 2000. That is very good and I hope that I can be a part of that." BONN, GERMANY (JULY 16, 2012) (REUTERS) FENCING TRAINING HENNEF, GERMANY (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (German) BRITTA HEIDEMANN, SAYING: "I think it's good for the success if you are as nervous as all the previous times. Fencing is a sport that needs strenuous effort and focus so that we have the tension to want to plant the next hit, to have the speed, to find the right moment. I hope that I will be nervous, that always is a good sign." BONN, GERMANY (JULY 16, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FENCING TRAINING HENNEF, GERMANY (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (German) FENCER AND OLYMPIC ATHLETE, BENJAMIN KLEIBRINK, SAYING: "I am much further down in the world ranking than I was four years ago. Therefore, I have to take it down a bit (the expectation). But I hope that I will have a good day and try for the semi-final. And if I'm lucky everything is possible. I am convinced that I can beat everyone if I have a good day." BONN, GERMANY (JULY 16, 2012) (REUTERS) FENCING TRAINING HENNEF, GERMANY (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (German) BENJAMIN KLEIBRINK, SAYING: "The competition is very strong this year. Besides Peter Joppich (won his fourth individual world title in November 2010. He previously won world titles in 2003, 2006 and 2007) here in Germany, we have the Italians, the French, the Chinese, they are very, very good. It is a very mixed field, we have to wait and see who will win." WIDE GERMAN OLYMPIC FENCING TEAM
- Embargoed: 4th August 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA4U50WFGTBV8A2OTJ8OTNKAX9O
- Story Text: Fencing star Britta Heidemann and the German female fencing team just managed to qualify for Olympia 2012 at the end of March. The relief was great, said the 29-year old Olympic medallist in 2008. Now all she has to concentrate on is putting the performances needed for a successful games. She has been honing her skills in the weeks leading up to the tournament by training daily at a centre near Bonn.
London is Heidemann's third Olympic games, an old hand one would think, but still prone to nerves.
"I think it's good for the success if you are as nervous as all the previous times. Fencing is a sport that needs strenuous effort and focus so that we have the tension to want to plant the next hit, to have the speed, to find the right moment. I hope t hat I will be nervous, that always is a good sign," she said.
Heidemann hopes to follow up her successes in the last two Olympic games. In Athens she won silver with the team and in Beijing in 2008 she took gold in the individual competition. But her fellow competitors continue to improve and Heidermann will look to up her game.
"It became apparent over the last years that the group of the best in the world has become much larger. It not only has moved closer together but there are also more athletes who have a chance to finish quiet well. I think that in important competitions like the Olympics only the very best succeed, that has become apparent in the last games as well as in 2004 and 2000. That is very good and I hope that I can be a part of that," she said.
Also hopeful of another medal is Benjamin Kleibrink. The foilsman fought his way to gold in Beijing. Four years down the line and he feels he has a bit more work to do.
"I am much further down in the world ranking than I was four years ago. Therefore, I have to take it down a bit (the expectation)," the 26-year old said. "But I hope that I will have a good day and try for the semi-final. And if I'm lucky everything is possible. I am convinced that I can beat everyone if I have a good day." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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