Anja Fichtel
Encyclopedia
Anja Fichtel-Mauritz is a German fencer
. At the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul
, she won in the individual and team competitions, and she won the individual competition of the World Championship in 1986 and 1990. She was winner of the World Championships in 1985, 1989, 1993 as a member of the national German
team and second in team competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics
. From 1986 until 1996 Fichtel held the title of German champion.
Fichtel is remembered not just for her many victories, but also for her uncompromised vigorous fencing style. As Elena Grishina, the noted Soviet fencer, recalls:
In 1990, she won the "Russian Cup," an international tournament in foil fencing
for women held in Moscow
, where the highest award was reserved for the foil fencer who did not lose a single bout. A year later, she again won the same cup.
Seven weeks before the Olympics in Barcelona
, Anja gave birth to her son Lauren. She followed her husband Torsten Mauritz to Austria
and changed her name to Fichtel-Mauritz. She still represented Germany at the team Olympics and took second place behind the Italian
team.
The Russians met Fichtel in Moscow
in 1993. At the “Russian Cup”, she lost to Diane Byakendy and took second place. In March 1997, she announced her retirement, and in October of the same year she gave birth to her second baby, and in 2007 her third child was born. Her elder son Lauren has also taken up fencing.
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...
. At the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, she won in the individual and team competitions, and she won the individual competition of the World Championship in 1986 and 1990. She was winner of the World Championships in 1985, 1989, 1993 as a member of the national German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
team and second in team competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
. From 1986 until 1996 Fichtel held the title of German champion.
Fichtel is remembered not just for her many victories, but also for her uncompromised vigorous fencing style. As Elena Grishina, the noted Soviet fencer, recalls:
In 1990, she won the "Russian Cup," an international tournament in foil fencing
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:...
for women held in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, where the highest award was reserved for the foil fencer who did not lose a single bout. A year later, she again won the same cup.
Seven weeks before the Olympics in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Anja gave birth to her son Lauren. She followed her husband Torsten Mauritz to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and changed her name to Fichtel-Mauritz. She still represented Germany at the team Olympics and took second place behind the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
team.
The Russians met Fichtel in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in 1993. At the “Russian Cup”, she lost to Diane Byakendy and took second place. In March 1997, she announced her retirement, and in October of the same year she gave birth to her second baby, and in 2007 her third child was born. Her elder son Lauren has also taken up fencing.
Palmarès
1985 Junior World Fencing Championships, foil, individual and team- 1986 World Fencing Championships1986 World Fencing ChampionshipsThe 1986 World Fencing Championships were held in Sofia, Bulgaria. The event took place from July 25 to August 3, 1986.-Medal table:-References:*...
, foil, individual - 1988 Junior World Fencing Championships, foil, individual
- 1988 Olympic Games1988 Summer OlympicsThe 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
, foil, individual and team 
1989 World Fencing Championships1989 World Fencing ChampionshipsThe 1989 World Fencing Championships were held in Denver, United States. The event took place from July 5 to July 15, 1989.-Medal table:-References:*...
, foil, individual- 1989 World Fencing Championships1989 World Fencing ChampionshipsThe 1989 World Fencing Championships were held in Denver, United States. The event took place from July 5 to July 15, 1989.-Medal table:-References:*...
, foil, team - 1990 World Fencing Championships1990 World Fencing ChampionshipsThe 1990 World Fencing Championships were held in Lyon, France.-Medal table:-References:*...
, foil, individual - 1992 Olympic Games1992 Summer OlympicsThe 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
, foil, team - 1993 World Fencing Championships1993 World Fencing ChampionshipsThe 1993 World Fencing Championships were held in Essen, Germany.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-References:*...
, foil, team
External links
- "For Future of Fencing" International Charity Fund website (original source of this article)
- Palmarès of the Fédération Internationale d'EscrimeFédération Internationale d'EscrimeFédération 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...