[Zvmwissq]

I just had a look at FIE rankings - it would seem that fencers who go out in the L64 at the Olympics get 6 FIE ranking points, and 12 for those who go out in the L32, even if they didn't have to fence a L64 fight to get there. Is it just me, or does that seem rather generous for effectively "just turning up" (admittedly after working bloody hard to qualify)?

[Bvghbopz]

For British rankings it may still need to be in top 50% and to have won a match (I'm guessing - too lazy to look it up). Though its a bit rough if you don't win a match, get points and you're a discretionary pick - the effect would be like the home nation has gifted their discretionary picks with FIE ranking points.

[WhileKelf]

Just as planned...

[risyGreeple]

The same is true for senior A grades. Top 16 get a bye to the 64, if they loose they get points and potentially improve their world ranking, that happened to Richard not so long ago. I remember it happened to my girlfriend Iris Rau when she was fencing, ranked 84 in the world but in the top 16 of those of those in the tournament, lost her 64 bout, gained points and improved her world ranking. The advantage is that by favouring top fencers in this way it creates stability at the top end of the ranking.

[soydaykam]

James Davis up to #23 in the world thanks to the points he got on Tuesday. It's a funny system, but I guess we can live with it if it boosts Davis' chances of having a good upcoming season!

[jackie Obrian]

To be honest, I've suspected for a while that the whole 'entering so-and-so for experience' argument has a lot to do with these ranking points. We will probably see the results of several of the 'experience picks' improve next season and this will be put down to Olympic experience and the WCP, rather than the additional points moving the fencers up in the seeding and thus giving them easier poule draws.

[Dreqsqse]

James Davis up to #23 in the world thanks to the points he got on Tuesday. It's a funny system, but I guess we can live with it if it boosts Davis' chances of having a good upcoming season!

I suspect that he is the one who will gain the most and with Kruse potentially retiring before the next olympics, he could become the next poster boy of British Fencing rather like Murray took over from Henman. Sophie Troiano may also benefit, she is still very young.

[SiM7W2zi]

I suspect that he is the one who will gain the most and with Kruse potentially retiring before the next olympics, he could become the next poster boy of British Fencing rather like Murray took over from Henman. Sophie Troiano may also benefit, she is still very young.

Indeed, he may very well succeed Kruse. Kruse had a relatively dissapointing result in Beijing, yet afterwards hit his best run of results from then to mid-2010 (broadly speaking), so definitely not the end of the world for Davis.

[Faigokilix]

I suspect that he is the one who will gain the most and with Kruse potentially retiring before the next olympics, he could become the next poster boy of British Fencing rather like Murray took over from Henman. Sophie Troiano may also benefit, she is still very young.

Sophie is 25, which is not over the hill, but is not 'very young' either.

James is almost literally half the man he used to be (with the help of S&C guy John).. So you could say he is a reinvented fencer.

Don't write Husayn off. He takes a while to acclimatise. His first big age group championships, the world cadets in he crashed and burned. Not too much later he took a bronze medal. Husayn will work into this level and he one for whom this experience will be invaluable for Rio.

[Nadin Maison]

Sophie is 25, which is not over the hill, but is not 'very young' either.

James is almost literally half the man he used to be (with the help of S&C guy John).. So you could say he is a reinvented fencer.

Don't write Husayn off. He takes a while to acclimatise. His first big age group championships, the world cadets in he crashed and burned. Not too much later he took a bronze medal. Husayn will work into this level and he one for whom this experience will be invaluable for Rio.

I'm not writing any of them off, I can assure you. I was merely saying that JD could well be the next big name when Kruse retires (if he does).

[tsovimnpb]

I wonder though, once Kruse retires, who would join Davis and Rosowsky in making up a team event line up? Plenty of options from Melia to Mepstead, Tofalides to Jefferies to name a few. I know one or two are more probable to make the cut than others, but then again most of us probably didn't see Davis turning himself around so stylishing over the last 18 months.