LAUSANNE, Switz., Dec. 10, 2020—The FIE is saddened to be informed of the passing of Polish fencing champion Wojciech Zablocki on December 5 at the age of 89. Born on December 6, 1930 in Warsaw, Mr. Zablocki was a member of the FIE Hall of Fame who won a bronze and two silver medals in team sabre at the Olympic Games (Melbourne 1956, Rome 1960 and Tokyo 1964) as well as ten medals in both individual and team events at the Fencing World Championships between 1953 and 1963. As a member of the Polish men’s sabre team, he was a team world champion in 1959, 1961, 1962 and 1963, and in 1953 was individual junior world champion.
An official release from the Polish Fencing Federation stated, “He was an outstanding man—not only a great sabre fencer but also a world-famous architect, academic lecturer, expert in non-firearm weapons, author of numerous books, draftsman and painter. He was also a devoted husband, father and grandfather … he will remain in our memory as a righteous man of great heart, and at the same time, despite his impressive sports and professional achievements, modest, warm, humorous and kind to everyone”.
Throughout his career, Mr. Zablocki received numerous Polish and international accolades and awards in both fencing and other professional pursuits. Among them, he was awarded the International Olympic Committee Sports and Architecture Trophy (1992) and Pierre de Coubertin medal (2009). In 2011, he was given the Polish Ecce Homo Order for “…a great sports career, enormous charisma in acting for the benefit of athletes and sports, and the magical beauty enchanted in his architecture”.
On behalf of our world fencing family, we extend deepest condolences to Mr. Zablocki’s family and friends, and to the Polish Fencing Federation and European Fencing Confederation at this difficult time.