The women's fencing team aiming to add to Hungary's historic legacy

CGTN Europe

It's Hungary's most successful Olympic sport - and this quartet of saber-wavers is hoping to carve another chapter into history.   CGTN’s Pablo Gutierrez tells the story.   #Olympics #hungary #paris #fencing

Transcript

00:00This formidable quartet has established itself as one of the top teams in modern Hungarian

00:10fencing and now they are setting their sights on Olympic gold.

00:15When I put on the mask and when they say pray ale and I start to fence I'm only focusing

00:23on the opponent. I'm trying to shut down everything, not focusing on the supporters,

00:32not focusing on anyone who's watching. Only me, my coach and the opponent and I think

00:40this is the key because then my brain can think after every touch.

00:46Lúcia Szucs is the only female fencer in the team making her Olympic debut in Paris.

00:51She is known for her lightning fast sabre skills and finesse. She will compete alongside

00:55her three teammates, all of whom have previous Olympic experience.

01:00Well, obviously I'm a little bit nervous but I'm looking forward to it because we've been

01:09working really hard for this moment and I think we can maybe do a medal.

01:16Lisa Pusztaj won gold in sabre at the Summer Youth Olympics and was a key player in winning

01:22two team World Championship titles. She is known for her fiery spirit and her electrifying

01:28fencing style.

01:29I wake up feeling great and excited about the competition. Instead of pressure our World

01:36Championship wins motivate us. As a young team we are proving our potential and I'm

01:41hopeful we'll stay focused and perform well at the Olympics.

01:46Sugar Batayi is one of the team's most senior members. She has won multiple European and

01:51World Championships and competed in the Tokyo Olympics with team captain Anna Martin. Both

01:57are known for their calm, composed and highly strategic fencing.

02:03The Hungarian women's fencing team says they have a unique edge for Paris, the strength

02:08of their friendship. They have trained, fought and celebrated together for years since they

02:14were children, each knowing the other's strengths and weaknesses.

02:20Together not only do these athletes form a fiercely competitive team, but also one united

02:26by an unbreakable bond. They are sisters in arms.

02:30I'm pretty sure we couldn't have won two World Championship titles if we weren't this close

02:38as a team.

02:39On the road to Paris they have faced tough competition, beating some of the top teams

02:44from Europe and around the world. They say that if they stay united in their goal, they

02:49can become part of Hungary's proud fencing legacy.

02:53Pablo Gutierrez, CGTN, Budapest.

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