With great regret, with the Spanish Fencing Federation, we announce the passing of Spanish fencing master Ángel Martínez Vassallo on April 5.
Born in San Sebastián on January 20, 1952, he was a member of the national junior and senior men's foil teams until 1978, when he began working as a weapons master of the Royal Spanish Fencing Federation. After several years as national coach in Seville and Madrid, in clubs such as the Fencing Club Maestro Cervantes, Fencing Club of Madrid and the Weapons Room Palacio de los Deportes, he was appointed Head of the Absolute National Teams in 1990, a position he held until 2013.
He was a member of the Team of Masters Saber World Champion and foil bronze medal in 1978, along with Joaquín Campomanes Grande, Luis Sánchez-Elvira Jiménez and Antonio Solivera González.
Mr. Vassallo was also part of a team of coaches who developed fencing in Spain and led the country to the successes culminating gold medals of Manuel Pereira in 1989; the female sword team of Rosa Castillejo, Taymi Chapé, Carmen Ruiz and Cristina Vargas in 1994; and the Olympic bronze medal of José Luis Abajo in Beijing 2008.
Ángel Martínez Vassallo lived fencing and life with passion and made it his reason for being until the end of his days. On behalf of the world fencing community, we extend our deepest sympathies to his friends, colleagues, and family.