USA Fencing

(Columbus, Ohio) – After hosting USA Fencing’s 2013 National Championships and July North American Cup for the first time this past summer, Columbus will welcome back fencing’s largest tournament when it returns to Columbus June 22-July 3 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. 

“We’re thrilled to be back in Columbus for 2014 after breaking numerous attendance records at the Nationals earlier this year,” said USA Fencing National Events Director Christy Strong-Simmons (Colorado Springs, Colo.) “Columbus really rolled out the red carpet for our fencing community and their support made 2013 one of our most successful events ever. We’re all looking forward to returning to Columbus next summer.”

As the largest fencing tournament in the world, more than 4,000 athletes and more than 400 teams will compete at the USA Fencing National Championships and July North American Cup with athletes ranging in age from nine to 90-years-old. With more than 10,000 competitors, family members and fans traveling to Columbus for USA Fencing’s marquee event, the city of Columbus is expected to generate more than $5 million dollars in visitor spending.

This year, the tournament is expected to break records again as new events have been added to the lineup as the Division I competition will be held during the July North American Cup. 

The addition of Division I to the tournament will expand the world’s largest fencing competition to 12 days of action with competitors to include Olympians and athletes who will be fencing in their final event before the 2014 Senior World Championships in August. 

“Columbus is proud to continue our partnership with USA Fencing,” said Greater Columbus Sports Commission Executive Director Linda Shetina Logan (Columbus, Ohio). “It’s a great testament to our destination’s hospitality community to have them back and we look forward to working together again to help showcase the best fencers in the world.”

One of the premier destinations for sporting events in the United States, Columbus is seeking to become the “fencing capital of the country.” In addition to the 2013 and now the 2014 National Championships and North American Cup, The Ohio State University also will host the NCAA Fencing National Championships in 2014 and 2015 for the fourth and fifth time in seven years (2008, 2011 and 2012). The Buckeyes were NCAA national champions in 2012 and are bidding on the NCAA championships in 2017. The nationally-renown Steelwood Athletic Training Facility, home to the Ohio State fencing team, boasts one of the largest fencing centers in the country with 14 electronic practice strips and approximately 8,800-square feet of training space.

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Click here to view more information about the 2014 USA Fencing National Championships and July NAC.

USA Fencing is the recognized National Governing Body for the sport of fencing in the United States. The organization’s mission is to serve and foster the growth, participation and development of domestic fencing at all levels and to achieve sustained international success. USA Fencing is affiliated with the Féderation Internationale d'Escrime (FIE), the international federation for fencing. A 501-c-3 non-profit organization, USA Fencing is based out of Colorado Springs, Colo. and has a membership of more than 30,000 individuals, including grassroots, elite and veteran fencers.

The Greater Columbus Sports Commission (GCSC) is the only organization 100% focused on attracting sporting events to Columbus. In 11 years, the sports commission has bid on and brought more than 240 new sporting events to Columbus that have generated an estimated $285 million in visitor spending, while also working to retain annual bid events that have generated an additional $200 million.