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By Maimouna Bathily

How Does The Olympic Qualification Process Work ?

While many of us eagerly await our #TeamAzza fencers to begin competing in the Olympics, we may wonder how the complex and unique qualification process actually functions. Others may dream of achieving their Olympic dreams without actually knowing how to qualify. This article seeks to answer these timely questions. In Paris, the 2024 Summer Olympics will feature 212 fencers, including 102 men and 102 women. Fencing is split between three weapons and two genders; in the Olympics, it is also split between two types of events: team events and individual events. Read below for the qualification process for each event. 

Team Events

The first four countries selected to compete in the team event are based on the points generated from the FIE Official Senior Team Ranking List. The highest-ranked country in each weapon and per gender from zones (Africa, America, Asia-Oceania, and Europe) who are ranked anywhere from 5th to 16th place will also automatically qualify for the games. However, this excludes all countries that have already earned selection by earning the top 4 ranking in the world. If a country does not qualify a team, it can only send one athlete in that weapon to the Olympics through another qualification method. It is also important to note that each country has a unique method for determining who competes on their Olympic team. Some countries allow the coach to make a personal selection and others use their own points based process. Many countries’ processes fall in between these two methods. 

Individual Events

In the individual event, there can be a maximum of 37 fencers and a minimum of 34 fencers in each event. These fencers may qualify from a variety of different paths. Each country that has qualified a team may select three fencers from their team to compete in the respective individual event for their weapon and gender. In the next step, the top-ranked fencers in the world based on their region will be selected as long as no one else from their country is ranked above them in that weapon. This step excludes all fencers who have been selected through the team event. This group of athletes includes two fencers from Europe, two from Asia-Oceania, one from the Americas, and one from Africa. The second to last way to qualify is by winning a Zonal Qualifying event, which is held in each region and is only open to fencers who represent countries that have not already qualified a fencer in that weapon and gender. The last way to qualify for the individual event is by being one of 12 fencers chosen to compete if the host country has not automatically qualified three fencers to compete in the team event for each weapon and gender. For every fencer that the host country qualifies through the traditional process, they may select another fencer from a different country despite their international ranking to compete at the Olympic Games. 

Now that you have been given the rundown of the Olympic qualification process, it is much easier to envision yourself competing for the gold medal in Azza’s 15/14 shoe. In addition, you are further aware of the hard work and dedication that these athletes have committed themselves to for their entire careers and can be an even better #TeamAzza fan!

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