COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- They call it "the greatest show on strips." This week, Columbus is hosting USA Fencing Summer Nationals with more than 6,200 athletes competing at the Convention Center.
The event presents a pivotal moment for growing the sport and is expected to be the biggest in fencing history.
And there's plenty at stake on the 105 strips that have been assembled inside the Greater Columbus Convention Center. For many, this is where future Olympians are born.
"It really puts them in a position to make the next teams for the world championships, whether it's junior cadets or seniors, which is the first stage of going towards that next Olympics," Ohio State head coach Donald Anthony Jr. said. "And then for the younger fencers, this is a national championship. So you walk away from here as a national champion."
The competition is intense. There are three different weapons used in fencing: épée, saber and foil.
For Ohio State rising sophomore fencer Ayush Shah, épée is the easiest one to understand.
"Basically, anywhere on the body is a target and you're stabbing the opponent. You're hitting them anywhere on the body," Shah said.
But the mindset of a fencer takes shape long before they take the strip, also known as the piste.
"These bouts are not won on the strip," Anthony said. "They're won before you get here. It's your practice. It's your mental preparation. Really what's important on the strip is just being able to maintain level of composure and nerves so that you can execute on what you know you can do. If you can do that, it's a matter of who's smarter, who has the best tactics, who's in the best condition."
This is the second time in five years that Columbus is home to Summer Nationals, putting the spotlight on a region that's been a hotbed for the sport. Ohio State has sent 15 fencers to the Olympics, including four to the last Summer Games in Tokyo.
"A lot of people in other countries don't know about these other colleges but they do know Ohio State because it produces amazing Olympians and it creates a strong bond here," Shah said.
And in an Olympic year, Summer Nationals serve as a warmup to the action to come in Paris.
"This is an opportunity to get more people involved as they start thinking about Olympics," Anthony said. "Now we're growing and getting more exposure and my philosophy has always been make the sport accessible to those who haven't had an opportunity to either see it, participate, or appreciate it."
The action at the Convention Center runs through Monday with several Team USA fencing Olympians, including Lee Kiefer and Miles Chamley-Watson, expected to be in town to meet fans. Spectators can attend the event for free.
