Richard Kruse
Encyclopedia
Richard Kruse is a British fencer
who has twice represented Great Britain at the Summer Olympics
.
Kruse competes in the foil
and won his first international medal, a silver, at the 2001 European Under 20 Championships and in 2002 won gold in at the same event.
He made his Olympic debut at the 2004 Games
in Athens
, Greece. Competing in the men's individual foil. He received a bye in the first round, beat China's
Wang Haibin
in round two and Dan Kellner
of the United States
in the third round before being defeated 8–15 by Andrea Cassarà
in the quarter-finals. His eighth place finish was the best by any British fencer since the 1964 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo
. In 2006 Kruse won the silver medal in the men's foil event at the European Fencing Championships.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
, China, Kruse again participated in the men's individual foil event
. He defeated Virgil Saliscan of Romania
in the round of 32 but was eliminated at the last 16 stage after a 9–10 loss to Germany's
Peter Joppich
.
In 2009 Kruse had his most successful season to date. He won a gold medal at the World Cup event in Copenhagen
and a silver medal in Paris
before winning a silver medal at the 2009 European Fencing Championships
held in Plovdiv
, Bulgaria. Kruse finished the season ranked fifth in the world.
At the 2011 World Cup event in Seoul
, South Korea, Kruse won the silver medal in the men's foil. he won five matches, including a 15–11 defeat of compatriot Laurence Halstead in the last eight to reach the final against Andrew Baldini of Italy. Baldini won the final by a single point, 15–14 to take the gold medal.
Kruse is coached by British national team coach Ziemek Wojciechowski.
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...
who has twice represented Great Britain at the Summer Olympics
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
.
Kruse competes in the foil
Foil (fencing)
A foil is a type of weapon used in fencing. It is the most common weapon in terms of usage in competition, and is usually the choice for elementary classes for fencing in general.- Components:...
and won his first international medal, a silver, at the 2001 European Under 20 Championships and in 2002 won gold in at the same event.
He made his Olympic debut at the 2004 Games
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece. Competing in the men's individual foil. He received a bye in the first round, beat China's
China at the 2004 Summer Olympics
China competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.The team won 32 gold medals and 63 medals in total ....
Wang Haibin
Wang Haibin
Wang Haibin is a male Chinese foil fencer. He competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics, in the 1996 Summer Olympics, in the 2000 Summer Olympics, and in the 2004 Summer Olympics....
in round two and Dan Kellner
Dan Kellner
Daniel "Dan" Kellner is an American foil fencer.-Early life:“When I was 13, I had a video game called ‘Summer Games,’ with all the Olympic Sports on it, even fencing," said Kellner. "I couldn’t make the fencing game work very well...
of the United States
United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics
The United States was represented at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, by the United States Olympic Committee . The delegation of 613 athletes was the largest the country has ever sent to the Summer Olympics...
in the third round before being defeated 8–15 by Andrea Cassarà
Andrea Cassarà
Andrea Cassarà is an Italian fencer and Olympian. He has won medals for foil.- External links :*...
in the quarter-finals. His eighth place finish was the best by any British fencer since the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. In 2006 Kruse won the silver medal in the men's foil event at the European Fencing Championships.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China, Kruse again participated in the men's individual foil event
Fencing at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's foil
The men's foil fencing competition at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics took place on August 13 at the Olympic Green Convention Centre.The foil competition consisted of a five-round single-elimination bracket with a bronze medal match between the two semifinal losers...
. He defeated Virgil Saliscan of Romania
Romania at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Romania competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics, be held in Beijing, People's Republic of China from August 8 to August 24, 2008. Romania intended to send 104 competitors to Beijing, although the delegation was reduced to 102 when two Romanian athletes were suspended for doping before the start of the...
in the round of 32 but was eliminated at the last 16 stage after a 9–10 loss to Germany's
Germany at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Germany competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, People's Republic of China. A total of 439 athletes were nominated to participate in the Games...
Peter Joppich
Peter Joppich
Peter Joppich is a German foil fencer.Joppich won the gold medal at the foil 2006 World Fencing Championships after beating Andrea Baldini 15-14 in the final. He beat Baldini again in the 2007 final, 15-9. He was also the 2003 World Champion.-References:* Markus Wessel / WDR.de...
.
In 2009 Kruse had his most successful season to date. He won a gold medal at the World Cup event in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
and a silver medal in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
before winning a silver medal at the 2009 European Fencing Championships
2009 European Fencing Championships
The 2009 European Fencing Championships was held at the International Fair Plovdiv in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The event took place from July 14 to July 19, 2009.-Schedule:...
held in Plovdiv
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
, Bulgaria. Kruse finished the season ranked fifth in the world.
At the 2011 World Cup event in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea, Kruse won the silver medal in the men's foil. he won five matches, including a 15–11 defeat of compatriot Laurence Halstead in the last eight to reach the final against Andrew Baldini of Italy. Baldini won the final by a single point, 15–14 to take the gold medal.
Kruse is coached by British national team coach Ziemek Wojciechowski.