In fencing, why do they scream so much?

Question

Yeah I was watching fencing in the Olympics and they were like shreaking at the top of their lungs..

Answer 1

Not all fencers yell (I don't), but it's just a way to get your adrenaline pumping and to get excited and all.  Also, when they get a touch(a point) they need to celebrate and they can't jump up and down or anything because they aren't done yet.  It's mainly the intensity of the sport.  Everything goes so fast (especially Sabre) that it's just a great way to not only celebrate,  but to show the director (the referee) that you're confident in your point.  Whenever my coach gets a touch (in practice or a tournament he) yells "OPA!!!!"

Answer 2

In part, it is a release of tension. During the encounter, you are on high alert and at the end of "fencing time" it's a way to decompress. Some fencers also use it to signal that they think they got the touch. It is a poor director who will let that influence the outcome, but on a subconscious level it works. Some fencers use it to intimidate their opponents.

Mariel Zagunis, 2004 and 2008 Olympic gold medalist, was asked this.

Question: You often see instances when both fencers touch at virtually the same time, react and turn toward the judges. What exactly is happening? Are you trying to convince the judges of getting the first touch in, or is it simply an emotional reaction?

Answer: It’s a combination of the two. A lot of the screaming, fist-pumping and foot-stomping does come from being really caught up in the moment, just like in a lot of other sports, like tennis or karate. You get all this emotion bottled up in you, and you do that huge action and the outburst is uncontrollable. It may look scary to people watching, or be unnerving to the opponent, but there are some circumstances when it influences what the referees decide. If you scream with such confidence that you got the point, the referees can be convinced. I have been a part of bouts where it has become a screaming match, to see who can scream louder and influence the referees more.

Answer 3

It allows you to breathe and relieve anxiety in one shot :P

Answer 4

Is the love of the game!

Answer 5

Which weapon were you watching??

In sabre its a way of expressing the excess energy.

Answer 6

most of the time fencing is decided by 100ths of a second....and while the lights are there and they have replay and such things in fencing it is still the judges call on who gets the touch or point....when both are soooo close that it is hard to tell it is usual for both competitors to cheer and act like they are sure they won the point....it is simply to try and sway the judges decision and is part of the sport.....along with that it is very competitive and is the love of the sport like someone else stated.....these are olympic athletes they train there entire lives for this it is the highest they can go and to win in the olympics makes them the best which is what they strive for.

Answer 7

When they made up the rules, in King Arthur's Court, it  was either that or farting.  They tried it both ways. After a while screaming just didn't seem so bad.