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When did wheelchair fencing become part of the Paralympic Games?
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Giovanna Trillini (rear) of Italy successfully defending her world champion foil title against Wang Huifeng of China at the 1992 Olympics.
Wheelchair fencing has been a part of the Paralympic Games since 1960.1
Developed by Sir Ludwig Guttmann as a therapeutic activity for World War II veterans, the sport evolved from the Stoke Mandeville Games, which were established in 1948. In this discipline, athletes compete in specialized frames that stabilize their wheelchairs, requiring them to rely on upper-body technique, timing, and leaning maneuvers rather than the footwork used in standard fencing.1