Sabre competition

Mariel Zagunis celebrates after defeating Tan Xue of China to win the gold medal in women’s individual sabre at the 2004 Olympics in Greece. Zagunis will go for a third straight sabre fencing gold medal in London; her 2004 Olympic win ended a 100-year U.S. drought. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

July 31, 2012 2:20 PM PT

It’s crazy to watch and hard to know what’s going on. It’s fencing with the sabre, which is derived from the cavalry sword. The target is anywhere above the waist -- because it was once considered ungentlemanly to strike an opponent’s horse.

Italy’s Diego Occhiuzzi, left, competes with Hungary’s Aron Szilagy during the gold medal match in the men’s individual sabre event at the ExCel Centre. (Dmitry Lovetsky / Associated Press)

In this multiple exposure picture, Russia’s Nikolay Kovalev, right, fences against Romania’s Rares Dumitrescu during their men’s sabre bronze medal bout at the ExCel Centre. (Alberto Pizzoli / AFP/Getty Images)

Italy’s Diego Occhiuzzi reacts after defeating Romania’s Rares Dumitrescu in a semifinal. (Dmitry Lovetsky / Associated Press)

Russia’s Nikolay Kovalev, right, reacts during the bronze medal match against Romania’s Rares Dumitrescu in the men’s fencing individual sabre. (Max Rossi / Associated Press)

Italy’s Diego Occhiuzzi, left, fences Hungary’s Aron Szilagyi during the gold medal sabre bout. Szilagyi won the gold medal. (Alberto Pizzoli / AFP/Getty Images)