OLYMPICS LONDON 2012: Davis expects end to Team GB's 48-year wait for fencing medal

By Sportsbeat staff, London 2012

JAMES Davis believes Great Britain can end their 48-year wait for an Olympic fencing medal at London 2012 – despite a difficult draw in their priority event.

PAINFUL WAIT: James Davis determind to end Great Britain's 48-year gap without Olympic medal success in fencing

Bill Hoskyns's epee silver at Tokyo in 1964 is Team GB's last success at the Games, but the men's foil team are considered outside podium prospects, following gold at last year's Olympic test event and bronze at the 2010 European Championships.

Davis and flatmate Husayn Rosowsky have established themselves in the senior ranks in recent months, at the expense of experienced international campaigner Laurence Halstead.

They will join four-time European individual medallist and three-time Olympian Richard Kruse in the squad, but Davis acknowledges it won't be easy.

Great Britain will face Egypt in the first round and should they win they will have to come through world number one side Italy in the quarter-finals, and either fencing powerhouse France or USA in the last four.

"We got within four points of beating a full-strength Italy team a few months ago in Seoul, so were within touching distance of them," said Davis, who has put on hold his psychology degree to focus full-time of his fencing ambition.

"The team has changed a lot in the last six months. We've got a young team that is really hungry for it and we've also got the experience of Richard in the squad.

"We've got a good team set-up and everything is very positive.

"It's a tough draw but it is of our own making. The draw is done on ranking and we've not done well enough this season."

Davis' Olympic preparations were hit by the tragic death of his influential first coach, James Perry, in a car crash earlier this month.

But he claims he has put grieving on hold until his competitions are over.

"I know he'd want me to concentrate on my game," said Davis, who started training with Mr Perry as a 12-year old.

"I have to focus and keep on training. It's a big loss to me but I can't let it affect me now. When the Games are over then I will think about it more."

© Sportsbeat 2012