Cadet  & Junior World Championships 2020 Cancelled

FIE announces cancellation of 2020 Cadet & Junior World Championships (Salt Lake City, USA)

In light of the impact of COVID-19 across the world, the FIE Executive Committee has officially confirmed the cancellation of the 2020 Cadet and Junior World Championships which were originally scheduled to take place in April in Salt Lake City, USA.

The safety of athletes should always remain at the forefront of any decision to re-start international competition. British Fencing supports the decision of the FIE, and acknowledge how difficult this decision will have been. Our thoughts are with our colleagues in USA Fencing and the competition organising team who have worked so hard behind the scenes to host the event.

We would like to take this opportunity to recognise the 2020 GBR team and all their hard work and dedication to meet the qualification standards and be selected to represent Great Britain at the World Championships.

For these athletes, the final element GBR representation for season 19/20 will now not be realised, and this opportunity to test themselves against the best in the world will be gone. As coaches, supporters and parents we will not have the opportunity to enjoy the nervous excitement as the fencers take the world stage and compete, to watch social media explode as we all urge and will them all to exceed their own expectations.

To all the GBR athletes selected, their coaches, parents and supporters we thank you again for all your hard work and commitment to fencing and look forward to supporting you as you continue to pursue your international fencing goals.

At this time we would like to particularly acknowledge the 13 athletes who are moving out of Juniors who will not get the opportunity again to compete in this tournament.

The ADP Lead Coaches, and BF Staff will be in contact with those athletes to discuss the implications of this cancellation and preparing for transitioning to the U23s and Seniors international circuit.

To all those impacted by this news, please remember it is ‘OK to not be OK’. Please click here and reach out if you need to.

Also announced, the 2020 Masters World Championship (Porec, Croatia) has been cancelled and the 2021 Senior World Championship is being rescheduled for 2022 and it is still planned to be held in Cairo, Egypt.

A summary of the other FIE decisions (published by the FIE here) will follow early next week.