Allan Jay
Encyclopedia
Allan Louis Neville Jay MBE
(born 30 June 1931, in London, England) was a British foil
and épée fencer
.
One of the greatest fencers in British history, Jay competed in five Olympiad
s in both épée and foil, winning two medals.
, he won the bronze medal
in individual foil in 1954, the silver medal
in 1962, and the gold medal
in 1966.
He also won the gold medal at the 1966 Commonwealth Games
in the team foil event. He won the bronze medal in individual épée in the 1958 Games.
Games, where he competed exclusively in the épée events. The British team reached the 2nd round, while Jay reached the semifinals in the individual competition.
Jay returned to the Olympics in 1956 at the Melbourne
Games, and competed in both épée and foil. In the final pool of individual foil, Jay won 4 of his 7 matches and finished in 4th place. In team foil, Jay and the British team finished in 5th place. During the Games, Jay was also a member of the British épée team (he did not compete in the individual event). In the final pool, the British team finished 4th after losing to Hungary, Italy, and France.
Jay went to his third Olympiad in 1960 at the Rome Games, competing in four events. He won a silver medal
in team épée. In the individual épée competition, Jay finished 2nd to capture another silver medal. In the foil events, Jay and the British finished tied for 5th place. In individual foil, he won his 1st-round pool, but did not advance past the quarterfinals.
His two silver medals caused the 1960 Official Report of the British Olympic Association
to state: "Our outstanding fencer, of course, was Jay who, although he failed to reach the foil final owing to cramp
and exhaustion, never lost a bout in the team foil event, was second in the épée individual (losing the title by one hit!) and was the architect of our épée team's success."
Jay's fourth Olympiad was the 1964 Tokyo Games, where he again competed in both épée and foil. In team foil, Jay and his British teammates lost in the 1st round. In the individual event, Jay reached the 3rd round before losing to bronze medalist Daniel Revenu of France. In the épée events, Jay was eliminated in the 2nd round in both competitions.
In 1959, he won the World Championship
s’ Individual Foil title, and tied for 1st place in the Individual Épée event. However, he lost a barrage 4–5, and had to settle for a silver medal
in Individual Épée. He was the first fencer to finish 1st and 2nd in 2 weapons with electrical judging, and only 4th all-time.
At other World Championships competitions, Jay took a bronze in Team Foil in 1955, and the 1957 bronze in Individual Foil. He was a silver medalist in 1965 in Team Épée.
in Israel, capturing 6 gold medals.
or International Fencing Federation) Disciplinary Commission.
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
(born 30 June 1931, in London, England) was a British foil
Foil (fencing)
A foil is a type of weapon used in fencing. It is the most common weapon in terms of usage in competition, and is usually the choice for elementary classes for fencing in general.- Components:...
and épée fencer
Fencing
Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
.
One of the greatest fencers in British history, Jay competed in five Olympiad
Olympiad
An Olympiad is a period of four years, associated with the Olympic Games of Classical Greece. In the Hellenistic period, beginning with Ephorus, Olympiads were used as calendar epoch....
s in both épée and foil, winning two medals.
National championships
Jay was the Great Britain épée champion in 1952, and from 1959–61. He was the country's foil champion in 1963.Commonwealth Games
At the Commonwealth GamesCommonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
, he won the bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
in individual foil in 1954, the silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
in 1962, and the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in 1966.
He also won the gold medal at the 1966 Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
in the team foil event. He won the bronze medal in individual épée in the 1958 Games.
World Championships
Jay won silver medals in individual épée at the 1959 World Championships, a bronze medal in individual foil at the 1957 World Championships, and a gold medal in individual foil at the 1959 World Championships.Olympics
His first Olympic appearance occurred in 1952 (at the age of 21) at the HelsinkiHelsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
Games, where he competed exclusively in the épée events. The British team reached the 2nd round, while Jay reached the semifinals in the individual competition.
Jay returned to the Olympics in 1956 at the Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
Games, and competed in both épée and foil. In the final pool of individual foil, Jay won 4 of his 7 matches and finished in 4th place. In team foil, Jay and the British team finished in 5th place. During the Games, Jay was also a member of the British épée team (he did not compete in the individual event). In the final pool, the British team finished 4th after losing to Hungary, Italy, and France.
Jay went to his third Olympiad in 1960 at the Rome Games, competing in four events. He won a silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
in team épée. In the individual épée competition, Jay finished 2nd to capture another silver medal. In the foil events, Jay and the British finished tied for 5th place. In individual foil, he won his 1st-round pool, but did not advance past the quarterfinals.
His two silver medals caused the 1960 Official Report of the British Olympic Association
British Olympic Association
The British Olympic Association is the national Olympic committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It was formed in 1905 in the House of Commons, and at that time consisted of seven national governing body members from the following sports: fencing, life-saving, cycling, skating, rowing,...
to state: "Our outstanding fencer, of course, was Jay who, although he failed to reach the foil final owing to cramp
Cramp
Cramps are unpleasant, often painful sensations caused by muscle contraction or over shortening. Common causes of skeletal muscle cramps include muscle fatigue, low sodium, and low potassium...
and exhaustion, never lost a bout in the team foil event, was second in the épée individual (losing the title by one hit!) and was the architect of our épée team's success."
Jay's fourth Olympiad was the 1964 Tokyo Games, where he again competed in both épée and foil. In team foil, Jay and his British teammates lost in the 1st round. In the individual event, Jay reached the 3rd round before losing to bronze medalist Daniel Revenu of France. In the épée events, Jay was eliminated in the 2nd round in both competitions.
World Championships
No fencer in modern times has won 2 titles at the same World Championships or Olympic Games, but Jay nearly did.In 1959, he won the World Championship
World championship
A world championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best nation, team, individual in the world in a particular field. Certain sports do not have a world championship, instead...
s’ Individual Foil title, and tied for 1st place in the Individual Épée event. However, he lost a barrage 4–5, and had to settle for a silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
in Individual Épée. He was the first fencer to finish 1st and 2nd in 2 weapons with electrical judging, and only 4th all-time.
At other World Championships competitions, Jay took a bronze in Team Foil in 1955, and the 1957 bronze in Individual Foil. He was a silver medalist in 1965 in Team Épée.
Maccabiah Games
Jay, who is Jewish, fenced in both the foil and épée events at the 1950 and 1953 Maccabiah GamesMaccabiah Games
The Maccabiah is an international Jewish athletic event similar to the Olympics held in Israel every four years under the auspices of the Maccabi Federation, affiliated with the Maccabi World Union. The Maccabiah Games is the third largest international sports competition in the world...
in Israel, capturing 6 gold medals.
Senior fencing
Jay remained dedicated to fencing after his international career ended. A graduate of Oxford University, he led a contingent of former Oxford fencing stars against the 2001 team, and the "Old Blues" defeated Oxford's Blues.FIE
Jay is a member of the FIE (Fédération Internationale d'EscrimeFédération Internationale d'Escrime
Fédération Internationale d'Escrime is the international governing body of Olympic fencing. It was founded on November 29, 1913 in Paris, France. Today, its head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland...
or International Fencing Federation) Disciplinary Commission.
See also
- List of athletes with the most appearances at Olympic Games
- List of select Jewish fencers