Olympic Medalist Backs British Para Fencers at Euros

A living legend of adaptive sports is betting on British greatness this week in Wales.

Pál Szekeres holds a distinction no other athlete can claim. The Hungarian fencer won bronze at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, then captured six Paralympic medals between 1992 and 2008 after a bus accident in 1991 changed his life forever. Now serving as chairman of World Para Fencing, he's watching history unfold at the European Championships in Cardiff.

His attention focuses on two British athletes who've already proven their champion pedigree. Dimitri Coutya, 28, claimed double gold in Paris, while Piers Gilliver, 32, triumphed in Tokyo three years earlier. Together, they represent the pinnacle of British para fencing.

"There are two guys who are real stars, Piers and Dimitri, and I'm sure we'll be hearing 'God Save The King' this week," Szekeres said. Both athletes already secured team bronze medals in the opening days, with Coutya earning two and Gilliver joining him for one.

The championships mark the first European para fencing event held in the UK since Sheffield in 2011. Cardiff's Sport Wales National Centre is hosting 120 athletes from across Europe, the highest turnout yet for the continental competition.

Why This Inspires

This event represents more than medals and national pride. Szekeres emphasized the unique spirit that defines para fencing, describing competitors as "opponents but not enemies" within a sport that connects people through shared experiences with disability.

The championships also launch the qualification journey for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. Athletes have until May 2028 to earn their spots, creating a longer pathway than able-bodied competitors face. For many, this week in Cardiff offers the first chance to take that crucial step.

British Fencing partnered with UK Sport, supported by National Lottery funding and the Welsh Government, to bring the event home. Nearly 100 volunteers, led by Disability Sport Wales, are making it possible.

Szekeres sees the growing strength of para fencing reflected in the rising competition level and increasing participation. After London 2012, British para fencing experienced remarkable growth, producing the next generation of champions now competing on home soil.

The individual events still ahead will determine how many times the British anthem plays, but Szekeres remains confident in the athletes he's championing and the sport's bright future.