But time has given her more perspective. Zagunis, a high school sophomore, began fencing with the foil when her older brother Marten took up the sport. She switched to saber, the last of the sport's weapons to include women, about seven years ago. But it is the closest to the swashbuckling speed and drama of the movies. A saber fencer can score with the point or the side of the blade.
Bouts can begin with deceptive calm, then erupt in athletic leaps and parries.
It was faster. And at the time I was just having fun with it. You need to be strong. You need to be quick. You have to be in shape because you have to move.