Sebastian Bachmann

Sebastian Bachmann (born November 24, 1986) is a German foil fencer, silver medallist at the 2011 World Championships and bronze medallist at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Career

Bachmann took up fencing at the age of five in the craze that followed Germany's fencing medals in at the 1988 Summer Olympics, especially as his hometown Lauda-Königshofen was not far from Tauberbischofsheim, Germany's foil stronghold. He first practiced both foil and épée, before specializing into foil as a teenager. In the team event Germany prevailed over Russia, but lost to Japan in the semi-finals by a single hit in overtime, leaving Bachmann frustrated as two of his hits had been refused by the referee. Germany prevailed 45–27 and came away with a bronze medal. Bachmann finished the 2011–12 season No.18 in world rankings, a career best .

At the 2013 European Championships in Zagreb Germany knocked off Hungary and Great Britain, then prevailed over Poland in the final to give Bachmann his first major gold medal. At the World Championships in Budapest he reached the quarter-finals for the first time in his career. He met the USA's Miles Chamley-Watson and took a 10–3 lead, but the American managed to come back. Bachmann lost 14–15 on a controversial red card and Chamley-Watson eventually won the gold medal. The following year, at the Kazan World Championships, Bachmann met Chamley-Watson again, this time in the table of 32. He acquired a 12–5 lead. On 14–7 for Bachmann Chamley-Watson was shown a red card for turning his back during the bout, allowing the German to win 15–7. Bachmann reached again the quarter-finals, where he was stopped by Russia's Timur Safin.