Foilist Cliff Bayer, ranked ninth in the world, is the man with the best chance to win a medal for the United States in the European-dominated sport. Competition takes place on a piste, which is 5 feet 10 inches wide and more than 45 feet long. Each has a flexible steel blade and is wired to record hits electronically. The sabre has a V-shaped blade. Hits may be made with the sabre's point, the front edge or the last third of its back edge.
Foil targets the torso area, which excludes the arms, head, neck and legs.
Calvary style fighting influences the sabre target area that extends from the waist to the top of the head. Individual events are fought on a direct-elimination draw. The first fencer to score 15 hits wins. Each bout is limited to nine minutes of actual fencing time. In team competition, each fencer faces the opponent's three fencers, but scoring is done on a relay basis.