IOC honours Estampador for trailblazing role

The groundbreaking work of the Philippines’ first female national fencing coach earned international recognition in November at the 2016 International Olympic Committee (IOC) Women and Sport Awards.

Maria Leonor Estampador received the Continental Trophy for Asia for her efforts to provide broader opportunities for women in her sport. Currently the administrative manager of the Asia Fencing Confederation, she was a fencing gold medallist at the 1993 Southeast Asian Games before moving into coaching and leadership roles.

She played an instrumental role in establishing the women’s council of the Fencing Confederation of Asia and through her initiatives, there are now more women involved in the confederation than ever before. She also launched the campaign to increase the quota of women on the International Fencing Federation’s Executive Committee, Commissions and Councils.

Additionally, Estampador has been a driving force behind free fencing lessons for young children and teenagers in the Philippines and the establishment of the country’s first inter-school fencing competition, as well as the creation of the Women Fencing awards.

Speaking at the awards ceremony in Lausanne on 7 November, she said: “I hope this award will inspire more women to put themselves forward and take a more active part in our sport. I also hope that the FIE community will realise that there are a lot of qualified women out there who would be a great help in how we do things and that an additional ten per cent in the quota is really not much to ask for.”

One of five Continental Trophy Winners from a variety of different sports, she received her award from Mikee Conjuangco-Jaworksi, Philippine representative and member of the IOC.

The IOC president Thomas Bach said of Estampador and her fellow award winners: “These personalities have assisted and inspired athletes. They have been fighting for the right of the female athletes, they have encouraged them. Let us be inspired by these role models to make the world a better place.”

Covaliu president of Romanian Olympic Committee

Former Olympic individual sabre champion Mihai Covaliu was elected President of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee (COSR) in November. The 39-year-old, who won gold at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, is considered one of the greatest fencers in Romanian history. He also won bronze at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and won the world and European titles.

In April 2013 he was elected President of the Romanian Fencing Federation, after Ana Pascu decided not to renew her candidacy. He remained the coach of the Romanian men’s sabre team, a team with which he won silver at the Budapest World Championships in 2013. Tiberiu Dolniceanu won the bronze medal.

Covaliu succeeded Alin Petrache at the helm of COSR.

See Mihai Covaliu’s biography: http://fie.org/fencers/Mihai-COVALIU-29/

Szilagyi heads FIE Athletes’ Commission

Two-time Hungarian Olympic gold medalist Aron Szilagyi has been elected president of the International Fencing Federation’s (FIE) Athletes’ Commission. The position also places Mr. Szilagyi as a member of the FIE Executive Committee.

“It is a great honour to serve as president of the Athletes Commission,” he said. Mr. Szilagyi thanked the athletes for their trust and especially acknowledged the previous Athletes’ Commission president, Yuki Ota of Japan, for his devoted work in this committee over the last three-and-a-half years. Mr. Ota played a major role in the FIE recognizing and including the commission in its oversight of world fencing.

“Even though my mandate is short I will work the best I can to achieve our goals,” Mr. Szilagyi stated. A significant part of Mr. Szilagyi’s responsibilities will be to collect and document matters concerning the Athletes’ Commission and discuss them with the FIE Executive Committee.

Aron Szilagyi’s biography: http://fie.org/fencers/Aron-SZILAGYI-13741/career