Italy’s Giordan targets continued sabre success

By Sam Harris | For IWAS

Italian wheelchair fencer Edoardo Giordan is hoping that a maiden World Championships podium will stand him in good stead in 2020 as he aims to make his Paralympic debut.

The 26-year-old has enjoyed a steady improvement in performance since 2015 when he entered his first international competition, especially in the sabre.

Now, as he prepares for the opening World Cup of the year in Eger, Hungary, from 13-16 February, Giordan is hoping to secure the best results possible to improve his chances of competing at Tokyo 2020.

“World Cup events are very important, especially this year because there are a lot of points up for grabs, so I hope to make good performances,” Giordan said.

“If I have to be honest, I want to finish on the podium in the sabre because I’ve proved that I can reach this result. Then I also hope to be good in epee because I need points to climb the ranking.”

Giordan’s best result in the individual epee was a third at a World Cup in 2017, so he has tasted the podium before.

For him, the new year – and a Paralympic debut – brings a mix of feelings and opportunities.

“I’m not exactly sure how to approach these yet. Going to Tokyo will be exciting for me, I will understand later how to react to all the emotions that are waiting for me.”

For now, the Italian is focusing on building on his sabre bronze medal from the 2019 IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World Championships in Cheongju, South Korea.

His main inspiration is teammate Andrea Pellegrini who introduced him to the sport.

“I started fencing in 2014 because of him. He is a real example for me and I see him as a symbol for every Paralympic athlete,” Giordan said.

The Italian has also excelled at other sports, practising swimming for nine years and playing football for six before the amputation of his right leg at the age of 20.

“At the beginning it was hard, you have to deal with life in a different way, you have to adapt yourself to new situations. Even the simplest things like having a shower seem to be difficult, you have to learn everything from the beginning, but despite all you can absolutely do everything great again.”

The 2020 IWAS Wheelchair Fencing World Cup in Eger will run from 13-16 February. Live results will be available here.

The competition will be followed by World Cups in Sao Paulo from 11-14 March and Warsaw from 3-6 July.

In between the 2020 IWAS Wheelchair Fencing European Championships will take place in Hatfield, Great Britain, from 26-31 May.