The men's sabre was one of four fencing

Fencing

Fencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...

 events on the Fencing at the 1908 Summer Olympics

Fencing at the 1908 Summer Olympics

At the 1908 Summer Olympics, four fencing events were contested.The 1908 Games were the first to lack a foil competition. Foil fencing, "not being in the opinion of the organisers a form of sport which is improved by competition," was held only as a display. The 1908 Olympics did introduce team...

 programme. The top two places were won by Hungarian fencers, who also took the gold medal in the team sabre

Fencing at the 1908 Summer Olympics - Men's team sabre

The men's team sabre was one of four fencing events on the Fencing at the 1908 Summer Olympics programme. The event was won by the Hungarian team, who also took the top two medals in the individual sabre event.-First round:Winners advanced, losers out...

 event.

First round

The first round was conducted in round-robin format, to three touches. Pool sizes ranged from 4 to 8 fencers. The three contestants who had lost the fewest bouts advanced.

Pool A

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Siegfried Flesch Siegfried Flesch Siegfried "Fritz" Flesch was an Austrian sabre fencer who competed in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Flesch was Jewish.-Olympic fencing career:...		5	0
2	Jetze Doorman Jetze Doorman Jetze Doorman was a Dutch Olympic fencer. He won four bronze medals. He also competed in the modern pentathlon at the 1912 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	2
	Vlastimil Lada-Sázavský Vlastimil Lada-Sázavský Vlastimil Lada-Sázavský was a Bohemian fencer. He won a bronze medal in the team sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	2
4	Jean de Mas Latrie Jean de Mas Latrie Jean de Mas Latrie was a French fencer and modern pentathlete. He competed in the individual sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics and the modern pentathlon at the 1912 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	3
5	Henri Six Henri Six Henri Six was a Belgian Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		1	4
	Jaroslav Šourek-Tucek		1	4

Pool B

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Otakar Lada Otakar Lada Otakar Lada was a Bohemian fencer. He won a bronze medal in the team sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	1
2	Arthur Murray Arthur Murray (fencer) Arthur Murray was a British Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual and team sabre events at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	2
	Péter Tóth Péter Tóth Péter Tóth was a Hungarian sabre and foil fencer.-Olympics:Tóth won gold medals in team sabre at the 1908 Olympics in London, and at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm....		2	2
	Joseph van der Voodt Joseph Van der Voodt Joseph Van der Voodt was a Belgian Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual and team sabre events at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	2
5	Johannes Adam Johannes Adam Johannes Adam was a German Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics.-References:...		1	3

The three-way tie for the two remaining places resulted in the British fencer being eliminated.

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
2	Péter Tóth		1	0
	Joseph van der Voodt		1	0
4	Arthur Murray		0	2

Pool C

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Alfred Labouchere Alfred Labouchere Alfred Labouchere was a Dutch fencer. He competed at the 1908 and 1928 Summer Olympics.-References:...		4	1
2	Etienne Grade Étienne Grade Étienne Grade was a Belgian Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual and team sabre events at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	2
	Fritz Jack Fritz Jack Fritz Jack was a German Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1908, 1912 and 1928 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	2
	Jean-Joseph Renaud		3	2
5	Dino Diana Dino Diana Dino Diana was an Italian fencer. He competed in the individual épée and sabre events at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	3
6	Douglas Godfree Douglas Godfree Douglas Godfree was a British Olympic fencer and modern pentathlete. He competed at the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics.-References:...		0	5

Renaud lost both his playoff matches, eliminating him and allowing Grade and Jack to advance.

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
2	Etienne Grade		1	0
	Fritz Jack		1	0
4	Jean-Joseph Renaud		0	2

Pool D

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	William Marsh William Marsh (fencer) William Marsh was a British fencer. He competed at four Olympic Games.-References:...		3	1
2	René Lateux René Lateux René Lateux was a French Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	2
	Julius Lichtenfels Julius Lichtenfels Julius Lichtenfels was a German Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	2
	Richard Schoemaker		2	2
5	Harald Krenchel Harald Krenchel Harald Krenchel was a Danish Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		1	3

The playoff resulted in two losses for Lichtenfels.

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
2	René Lateux		1	0
	Richard Schoemaker		1	0
4	Julius Lichtenfels		0	2

Pool E

The fifth pool was small, with only 4 fencers. This meant only one, Langevin, was eliminated.

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Adrianus de Jong Adrianus de Jong Adrianus Egbert Willem "Adriaan" "Arie" de Jong was a Dutch artillery army officer who fenced at five Olympics between 1906 and 1928 and won five bronze medals...		2	1
	Alessandro Pirzio Biroli		2	1
	Einar Schwartz-Nielsen Einar Schwartz-Nielsen Einar Schwartz-Nielsen was a Danish Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	1
4	Georges Langevin Georges Langevin Georges Langevin was a French Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		0	3

Pool F

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Georges de la Falaise Georges de la Falaise Comte Louis Gabriel Venant de La Falaise, known as Georges de La Falaise was a French fencer who competed in the late 19th century and early 20th century....		3	1
	Jenő Szántay Jenö Szántay Jenö Szántay was a Hungarian fencer. He competed in the individual sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	1
3	August Petri August Petri August Petri was a German Olympic fencer. He won a gold medal in the team sabre event at the 1906 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	2
	Antoine van Tomme Antoine Van Tomme Antoine Van Tomme was a Belgian Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual and team sabre events at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	2
5	Jacob van Löben Sels		0	4

Petri defeated van Tomme in the playoff for third place after having lost to the Belgian in the main pool.

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
3	August Petri		1	0
4	Antoine van Tomme		0	1

Pool G

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Dezső Földes Dezso Földes The title of this article contains the characters ő and ö. Where they are unavailable, the name may be represented as Dezso Foldes.Dr. Dezső Földes was a Hungarian saber fencer...		5	0
2	Sante Ceccherini Sante Ceccherini Sante Ceccherini was an Italian fencer. He won a silver medal in the team sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		4	1
3	Richard Badman Richard Badman Richard Badman was a British Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	3
	Lion van Minden Lion van Minden Lion van Minden was a Dutch Olympic epee fencer.Van Minden was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He participated in the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, England. Van Minden was killed in the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1944.-References:...		2	3
5	Jakob Erkrath de Bary		1	4
	Ismaël de Lesseps Ismaël de Lesseps Ismaël de Lesseps was a French Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual and team sabre events at the 1908 Summer Olympics. He was the brother of Bertrand Marie de Lesseps.-References:...		1	4

Badman defeated van Minden again in the playoff for third place.

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
3	Richard Badman		1	0
4	Lion van Minden		0	1

Pool H

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Marcello Bertinetti Marcello Bertinetti Marcello Bertinetti was an Italian fencer. He won two gold medals, a silver and a bronze.-References:...		4	1
	Bertrand Marie de Lesseps Bertrand Marie de Lesseps Bertrand Marie de Lesseps was a French fencer. He competed in the individual and team sabre events at the 1908 Summer Olympics. He was the brother of Ismaël de Lesseps.-References:...		4	1
3	Béla Zulawszky Béla Zulawszky Béla Zulawszky was a Hungarian fencer. He won a silver medal in the individual sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	2
4	Robert Krünert Robert Krünert Robert Krünert was a German Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1906 and 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	3
	Charles Wilson Charles Wilson (fencer) Charles Wilson was a British Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual and team sabre events at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	3
6	Walter Gates Walter Gates (fencer) Walter Gates was a South African Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics.-References:...		0	5

Pool I

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Oszkár Gerde Oszkár Gerde Dr. Oszkár Gerde, also spelled "Oskar" , born in Budapest, Hungary, was a Hungarian sabre fencer.-Olympics:...		4	1
	Lauritz Østrup		4	1
3	Willem van Blijenburgh		3	2
4	André du Bosch André du Bosch André du Bosch was a Belgian Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual and team sabre events at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	3
	Alfred Keene		2	3
6	Jacques de Saint-Brisson Jacques de Saint-Brisson Jacques de Saint-Brisson was a French Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		0	5

Pool J

The tenth pool was the largest, at fully twice the size of the fifth. Five of the eight fencers were eliminated. The Bohemian fencer, von Lobsdorf, defeated each of his seven opponents for a decisive first place in the pool. There was no match between Sarzano and Stohr.

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf was a Bohemian fencer and olympic medalist in sabre competition.He received a bronze medal in sabre individual and in sabre team at the 1908 Summer Olympics in London.-References:...		7	0
2	Paul Anspach Paul Anspach Paul Anspach was a Belgian épée and foil fencer.Anspach competed in four Olympiads for the Belgian fencing team .-Early life:Anspach was born in Burcht, Belgium on 1 April 1882....		5	2
	Jenő Apáthy Jenő Apáthy Jenő Apáthy was a Hungarian Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1906 and 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		5	2
4	Edward Brookfield Edward Brookfield Edward Brookfield was a British Olympic fencer. He competed at four Olympic Games.-References:...		3	4
	Johan van Schreven Johan van Schreven Johan van Schreven was a Dutch fencer. He competed in the individual épée and sabre events at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	4
6	Pietro Sarzano Pietro Sarzano Pietro Sarzano was an Italian Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual épée and sabre events at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	4
	Georg Stöhr Georg Stöhr Georg Stöhr was a German Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	4
8	Jean Mikorski Jean Mikorski Jean Mikorski was a French Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	5

Pool K

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Jenő Fuchs Jeno Fuchs Dr. Jenő Fuchs was a Hungarian Olympic champion sabre fencer.-Fencing career:...		5	0
2	Gustaaf van Hulstijn Gustaaf van Hulstijn Gustaaf van Hulstijn was a Dutch fencer. He competed in the individual sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		4	1
3	Vilém Tvrzský Vilém Tvrzský Vilém Tvrzský was an Olympic fencer. He competed for Bohemia at the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics and for Czechoslovakia at the 1920 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	2
4	Arolodo Pinelli Arolodo Pinelli Arolodo Pinelli was an Italian Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	3
5	Ernst Moldenhauer Ernst Moldenhauer Ernst Moldenhauer was a German Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual épée and sabre events at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		1	4
6	Lockhart Leith Lockhart Leith Lockhart Leith was a British Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		0	5

Pool L

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	George van Rossem George van Rossem George van Rossem was a Dutch fencer. He won a silver and three bronze medals. He was the President of the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime from 1925 to 1928.-References:...		4	1
2	C. Barry Notley		3	2
	Bedrich Schejbal Bedřich Schejbal Bedřich Schejbal was a Bohemian fencer. He won a bronze medal in the team sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	2
	Louis Chapuis Louis Chapuis Louis Chapuis was a French Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	2
5	Alexis Simonson Alexis Simonson Alexis Simonson was a Belgian Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1908 and 1920 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	3
6	Albert Naumann Albert Naumann Albert Naumann was a German Olympic fencer. He competed at the 1908 and 1912 Summer Olympics.-References:...		0	5

Chapuis was eliminated in the three-way playoff for second and third.

Place	Fencer	Nation
2	C. Barry Notley
	Bedrich Schejbal
4	Louis Chapuis

Pool M

The final pool was one of the larger pools, with 7 fencers.

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Lajos Werkner Lajos Werkner Lajos Werkner was a Hungarian sabre fencer.- Olympic career :He won gold medals in Team Sabre at the 1908 and 1912 Olympic Games....		5	1
2	Riccardo Nowak Riccardo Nowak Riccardo Nowak was an Italian fencer who took part in the 1908 Olympic Games in London....		4	2
	Emil Schön Emil Schön Emil Schön was a German Olympic fencer. He won a gold medal in the team sabre event at the 1906 Summer Olympics.-References:...		4	2
4	Marc Perrodon Marc Perrodon Marc Perrodon was a French fencer. He won a silver medal in the team sabre competition at the 1920 Summer Olympics.-References:...		3	3
5	Jan de Beaufort		2	4
	František Šourek-Tuček František Šourek-Tuček František Šourek-Tuček was a Bohemian fencer. He competed in the individual épée and sabre events at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		2	4
7	Anthony Chalke Anthony Chalke Anthony Chalke was a British Olympic fencer. He competed in the individual sabre event at the 1908 Summer Olympics.-References:...		1	5

Pool 1

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Jenő Fuchs		3	1
2	Etienne Grade		2	2
	C. Barry Notley		2	2
	Richard Schoemaker		2	2
5	René Lateux		1	3

Notley's pair of victories in the playoff gave him second in the pool, allowing him to advance.

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
2	C. Barry Notley		2	0
3	Etienne Grade		0	1
	Richard Schoemaker		0	1

Pool 2

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Lajos Werkner		4	0
2	Dezső Földes		3	1
3	George van Rossem		2	2
4	Richard Badman		1	3
5	Fritz Jack		1	3

Pool 3

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf		3	1
	Joseph van der Voodt		3	1
3	William Marsh		2	2
4	Adrianus de Jong		1	3
	Riccardo Nowak		1	3

Pool 4

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Bertrand Marie de Lesseps		3	0
2	Béla Zulawszky		2	1
3	Bedrich Schejbal		1	2
4	Vilém Tvrzský		0	3

Pool 5

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Oszkar Gerde		4	0
2	Sante Ceccherini		3	1
3	Otakar Lada		2	2
4	Emil Schön		1	3
5	Paul Anspach		0	4

Pool 6

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Péter Tóth		4	0
2	Jenő Szántay		3	1
3	Willem van Blijenburgh		1	3
	Siegfried Flesch		1	3
	Alfred Labouchere		1	3

Pool 7

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Marcello Bertinetti		4	0
2	Jetze Doorman		2	2
	August Petri		2	2
4	Vlastimil Lada-Sázavský		1	3
	Alessandro Pirzio Biroli		1	3

Doorman, who had lost to Petri in the main pool, defeated the German in the playoff for second place.

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
2	Jetze Doorman		1	0
3	August Petri		0	1

Pool 8

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Jenő Apáthy		2	1
	Georges de la Falaise		2	1
	Lauritz Østrup		2	1
4	Einar Schwartz-Nielsen		0	3

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Georges de la Falaise		2	0
2	Lauritz Østrup		1	1
3	Jenő Apáthy		0	2

Semifinals

There were two semifinals, each of 8 fencers. The top 4 in each advanced to the final.

Semifinal 1

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Jenő Fuchs		6	1
2	Lajos Werkner		5	2
3	Georges de la Falaise		4	3
	Jenő Szántay		4	3
5	Marcello Bertinetti		3	4
	Dezső Földes		3	4
7	C. Barry Notley		2	5
8	Bertrand Marie de Lesseps		1	6

Semifinal 2

Four fencers tied at 5-2 records, all advancing to the finals. Ceccherini gave up after his first four bouts, giving Tóth, van der Voodt, and Doorman wins by walkover.

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Jetze Doorman		5	2
	Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf		5	2
	Péter Tóth		5	2
	Béla Zulawszky		5	2
5	Oszkár Gerde		4	3
6	Lauritz Østrup		3	4
7	Joseph van der Voodt		1	6
8	Sante Ceccherini		0	7

Final

Fuchs and de Lobsdorf did not finish within the time limit, resulting in a loss for both of them.

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Jenő Fuchs		6	1
	Béla Zulawszky		6	1
3	Vilém Goppold von Lobsdorf		4	3
4	Jenő Szántay		3	4
5	Péter Tóth		3	4
6	Lajos Werkner		2	5
7	Jetze Doorman		1	6
	Georges de la Falaise		1	6

The playoff match for the gold medal was won by Fuchs, with the one-touch bout decided by a parry and riposte to his fellow Hungarian's head.

Place	Fencer	Nation	Wins	Losses
1	Jenő Fuchs		1	0
2	Béla Zulawszky		0	1

Sources

• De Wael, Herman. Herman's Full Olympians: "Fencing 1908". Accessed 1 May 2006. Available electronically at .