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A=20 sport that reflects sportsmanship: Norman Martinez ?=20 (Fencing)=20

Fencing=20 is a sport that reflects sportsmanship at its = best.=20 Chivalrous gestures may be seen before, during = and after=20 each match. The salutes effected before the bout = (to the=20 opponent, referee, and the audience) are usually = accompanied by the pearly smile of each fencer = who is,=20 at this time, visualising victory on his or her = side.=20 The salute after the bout has finished, deserves = closer=20 attention since the handshake reflects the grace = of the=20 winner and the dignity of his opponent. = Sportsmanship is=20 however best reflected during combat.

A = perfect=20 example of a good sportsman is the Swedish = fencer Peter=20 Vanky, who during the final of the World Cup = competition=20 in 2003, had to fence against the Austrian = Christoph=20 Marik.

Halfway through the bout, the = referee=20 attributed a touch to Peter Vanky, which was = also=20 accepted by Marik. In a gentlemanly attitude, = however,=20 Peter Vanky pointed out to the referee that the = score=20 should not be awarded to him because he had = touched his=20 own leg with his arm. Finally, Christoph Marik = beat=20 Peter Vanky to 15:13 and won the World Cup = competition=20 while Vanky obtained the second place. =

From my=20 experience as a fencer, I have learned that when = taking=20 part in a tournament, it is important to compete = with=20 all your heart, for you are not only = representing=20 yourself but also your club, those who give you = their=20 support, or if you are given an athlete=92s = highest=20 privilege: your country.

In a sport = where the=20 clashing of the swords may transport you to = earlier=20 times in which weapons were used to fight for = life and=20 honour, it is only good sportsmanship that will = lead you=20 to a positive outcome.

Although this may = not be=20 a victory, it would certainly be a result that = would=20 earn you respect and admiration from your = opponent and=20 anyone who sees your bout. You win some =96 you = lose some.=20 After all it is better to accept a loss with = style and=20 dignity, than to accept a victory obtained = through=20 wrongful means. There will be always a next=20 = time.