Czech fencer Alexander Choupenitch rejoices in bronze at the Tokyo Olympics.
Maxim Shemetov, Reuters
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“Swordsmen mature in a later age. If Sasha’s health lasts, I am convinced that his will, determination and motivation will drive him on. He can easily top fencing for another ten years, during which time he will be able to catch two or three Olympics. to win the gold, “Vaníček said in an interview with ČTK.
Choupenitch started at the age of eight in the training of Sokol Brno I with coach Jaroslava Pikhartová and two years later he was taken into care by Vaníček. “I’m such a fencing dad of his,” said Vanicek, 44, to best describe their relationship.
Bronze tears gushing! First I cried, then Sasha cried, says Choupenitch’s mother
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But Choupenitch’s path to fencing was not so straightforward. “Sasha tried hockey and basketball, but once he showed up at our fencing room, he was clear. This was a sport for him,” Vaníček recalled Choupenitch’s very first steps on the plateau, a high school professor of history and Latin by profession.
He also explained why Choupenitch was so enchanted by fencing and why he preferred it to team sports. “Sasha has always been an individualist and has always preferred to rely on his own strength. He experienced it very emotionally. How many tears did he shed during training when something went wrong, or how many times did he burst with joy when he succeeded,” added Choupenitch’s first coach.
To this day, Choupenitch’s first success at the international forum has stuck in his memory. “He won the tournament in Wroclaw, Poland under the age of 12. He was so emotionally carried away that he didn’t sleep all night, walked around the room with a fleece in his hand and repeated the situations that led him to victory,” said Vaníček.
???? And that’s them! ????
???? To this day, the last Olympic medal for the Czechia from fencing in London in 1908, which was won by Vilém Goppold.
Července On July 26, 2021, Alexander Choupenitch ended his 113-year wait for another Olympic fencing metal at the Tokyo Games. pic.twitter.com/dl74BwB3A1
– Czech Olympic Team (@olympijskytym) July 26, 2021
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According to Vaníček, Choupenitch led to a bronze medal success with a mix of talent, personal ambition and great hard work. “We recognized his talent very soon. He simply had a feeling for fencing. He knew when to go on the counterattack, he knew when it was better to stay in a defensive position. In addition, he has such a magical body movement that he can avoid the opponent’s attack,” Vanicek calculated. .
As for training hard work, rumors are circulating about Choupenitch about how he was able to train even eight hours a day. “It has to do with his character and what I have already said. I’m not surprised, but it was later when he was taken over by other coaches, especially Alexander Romaňkov and then his brother Vladimír. He worked in Brno for several years and brought Saša to the first major successes in junior and senior age, “said Vaníček with a reminder, for example, of the title of junior European champion from 2014 in Jerusalem.
You went for your dream and did it. ???? Swordsman Alexander Choupenitch and his new love. ???? A bronze Olympic medal that will never leave him. ???? pic.twitter.com/Lkd4eCkbSJ
– Czech Olympic Team (@olympijskytym) July 26, 2021
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Vanicek secretly hoped that Choupenitch could achieve real success in Tokyo right now. “He’s already had the Rio Olympics and told me he was so taken aback. He didn’t know what it all meant. He had some experience now. When we talked before we left, he felt internally balanced and he probably knew that “He has a medal and he will simply do it. It was clear from his words that he was pursuing his goal. This is probably his strongest character – to determine his goal and go after him,” Vaníček finished.
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