SWORDSEAT™ LAUNCHED AT BATH UNIVERSITY

To mark the official launch of the SwordSeat™, a cheaper and more accessible alternative to wheelchair fencing frames, BF hosted a reception event at the University of Bath on the 8th January 2025. The event received coverage by BBC Points West.

Introduced online at the end of 2024, the SwordSeat’s launch was celebrated with an in-person reception event at the University of Bath this week. Representatives from different organisations were invited to the event, including UK Sport, ParalympicsGB, The Change Foundation, UK Sports Institute, Disability Sport Wales, World Abilitysport, Active Gloucestershire, Wiltshire & Swindon Sport, Ware Rotary Club, Roma Medical Group and the University of Bath.

BF CEO Georgina Usher welcomed attendees to the reception, and Participation Director Virginia Bailey and Inclusion Officer (Disability) Rick Rodgers reflected on the past two years of increasing disability inclusion in the sport. The first step was identifying the barriers in our community via the 2023 Level Access Survey, which showed the prohibitive cost of equipment to be a major hindrance. Our wheelchair frame loan scheme aimed to remedy this problem, bringing frames to clubs around the UK.

Now, the SwordSeat further reduces the cost of grassroots wheelchair fencing, being adaptable, easy to transport and made from cheaper materials. Rather than first-time participants having to spend thousands of pounds on equipment before even trying the sport, clubs can now offer the SwordSeat as a more accessible alternative.

Dr Ed Elias, designer of the SwordSeat at the University of Bath, was interviewed by Rick about the project and its impact on the community. As well as reducing the cost of equipment, he noted the significance of open-sourcing the SwordSeat, meaning that people can customise the frame to suit their own needs and preferences. He said:

“It’s exciting to think of the changes the community might create that we can’t think of. From my wheelchair background, things that come to mind are alternative backrests for people with higher spinal injuries who need more support.”

Nat Lewis, BF Project Officer (Para), and Aimee Aronica, coach at Nottingham University, then gave a demonstration of the SwordSeat in action. Aimee, recipient of last year’s BF Honours award for her voluntary work in the area, spoke about her involvement in coaching wheelchair fencing. She also noted the positive impact of BF’s open seated fencing events and the wheelchair fencing GBR Pathway programme – neither of which require classification – meaning that more people are exposed to the sport and can see if it’s right for them.

“I don’t see wheelchair fencing as a sport just for disabled athletes,” Aimee said. “I see it as a sport for everybody.”

Piers Gilliver MBE and Dimitri Coutya MBE – Paralympic Champions at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024, respectively – shared their journeys from grassroots participation to elite international level. They said that, in addition to making equipment more accessible, one of the most important factors in increasing inclusivity was people’s willingness to learn about wheelchair fencing.

Piers said:

“It’s really an exciting time seeing that – you know, for my development, it really was just odd, dangerous, trying as you go – so I think innovations like this and the support from British Fencing to get more equipment out make a really big impact.”

Dimitri added:

“I think things like the SwordSeat for example is a fantastic way to reduce some of those barriers, and everyone’s got an option now to at least try it. Whether or not they continue with it until elite level is up to them, and if they show that interest that’s a decision they make, but at least now, with things like this, equipment becomes much less of a problem. And I think the willingness of people to take it on and give it a go is the other solution to that.”

The SwordSeat launch event was featured on BBC Points West in a report by Jack Killah. You can watch the video here.

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