Faucett fencing with legend’s backing
6 Septemnber 2008by Paul Rushton
The listing was posted by WheelPower - British Wheelchair Sport - News
Team manager Caz Walton is confident that ParalympicsGB’s lone fencer Lee Faucett can secure a top eight place, and maybe a medal, at the Beijing Games which start tomorrow.
Walton, who won 10 Paralympic fencing gold medals during her career, said: “Lee knows that he has beaten virtually everyone in the world. He just needs to work consistently and then he can do some damage. I think it is just the number one seed that he hasn’t beaten here.”
The 32-year-old Faucett from Middlesbrough will be making his Paralympic debut in two events, the individual sabre and the individual foil. Faucett has won European and World Championships bronze medals at sabre, but will compete in the foil first, on day eight (Sunday 14 September).
“I’d like to see him get into the last sixteen in the foil,” said Walton. “But as much as anything that is a loosener. It's just nice to get competition under your belt. He’s got the luxury of having that first and then his better weapon a couple of days later.”
Of Faucett’s chances in the sabre, Walton said: “The aim is for Lee is to qualify from the pool, ideally get to the quarter finals, and then see how it goes.
“In both weapons his main competition will be from China, Hong Kong, France and Poland, I would say. There is going to be some good competition as everybody in the world of any quality is going to be here.”
Walton, who was the last British fencer to win an individual gold back in Seoul 1988, is not just Faucett’s team manager, but also his mentor.
“Officially I’m a team manager, but I think being a mentor is part of being a team manager anyway. It helps that I’ve done quite a few Games, I’ve been there and done it.
“I know what the athletes are going through so I think that helps, to be able to put myself in his shoes,” she added.
Walton also knows how it feels to compete at this level: “Lee is so excited, he’s been packed for three weeks. It doesn’t matter how many competitions you have done, be it World Championships or European Championships, there is still nothing like the Paralympic Games. It is the peak of an athlete’s career.
“You can guarantee that everyone in the world will be here. Although you are always representing your country when you get picked for an international event, this is extra special.”
Faucett is a former British wheelchair basketball player and Walton is tipping him as a star of the future: “Lee wasn’t expected to qualify for the Games – he’s only been fencing for two and a half years. We were expecting him to be ready for London so it is a bonus he has made it this time round. His long-term aim is 2012.
“Because we didn't expect him to qualify we are forecasting him to get into the last eight, so there is no pressure on him and he is capable of doing better than that.”