Paul Anspach

Paul Anspach was one of Belgium’s excellent épée fencers that dominated the competitions at the 1912 Olympics. The Belgian team not only won the team competition, but also made up half of the field in the individual final, which was won by Anspach. His Olympic medal collection features three more medals, won in the team épée competitions of 1908, 1920 and 1924. In addition to competing in 1920, Anspach served as a committee member for fencing at the Antwerp Olympics.

Anspach was also an influential fencing official, being one of the founding members of the Fédération Internationale d’Escrime in 1913. He was the secretary-treasurer from the founding until 1920, and was elected as the body’s president in 1933. He remained in office until 1948, although the federation had been suspended during the German occupation.

Anspach was a doctor of law and a member of the Brussels bar. In 1952 he was awarded the Mohammed Taher Trophy by the IOC. In 1946 the FIE awarded him the Chevalier Feyerick Trophy “for the sporting and courageous way in which, during the war, he defended the interests and prestige of the FIE in spite of the danger to himself; for the efforts made with a view to safeguarding the automony of the FIE and for the work he carried out after the war to return it to its former splendour.” He passed away weeks before the 1981 Olympic Congress, which he was scheduled to attend at the age of 99.