In 1994, a group of Chinese athletic scouts walked into a classroom in Beijing to recruit young men and women for various sports. One scout saw 12-year-old Jing Zhi Wang, already knocking on six feet in height, and said to a fellow scout, “This one is definitely a fencer.”

Almost 13 years later, the six-foot five Wang and fellow countryman Han Ming Zhou are halfway through an eight-week trip in Europe, that includes five world cups, three grand prix world cups, three team events and a week long training camp in Budapest with the Hungarians, Venezuelans and Americans – all in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics, to be held in their hometown of Beijing. I sat down with them at the Stadion Hotel in Budapest, along with Coach Yong Chun Zhang and unrelated team interpreter, Ms. Hui Zhang.

Wang, seeking to make his first Olympic team is currently ranked 15th internationally. He gives most of that credit to newly hired national coach, Maestro Christian Bauer, widely regarded as the best sabre coach in the world today. Bauer, whose career resembles a daytime soap opera, coached France to Olympic Team Silver in 2000, following world titles in 1997 and 1999. He then moved to Italy after the 2001 World Championships. It’s been rumored that he left for more money. He resurrected a struggling Italian program, which hadn’t won a team medal since 1996. He coached Aldo Montano to Olympic Gold in 2004, and the Italians took Olympic Team Silver, narrowly losing to Bauer’s former team, France.

Bauer’s tenure in Italy would soon be short lived, as strained relationships with team members and the Italian Federation prompted Bauer to leave, just months before the 2006 World Championships in Italy. China welcomed the legendary coach with open arms, recognizing the opportunity they now had with him at the helm. Said Associate Coach Zhang of Bauer, “Mr. Bauer is a very professional coach. He has given us new philosophies on fencing. We feel most confident that with him we can win a medal in Beijing.” Wang added, “Mr. Bauer is a very high level coach. He has given me more technique, more strategy and a fresher approach to fencing.”

Zhou, who finished 30th in Athens, is vying for his second straight Olympic Team. His confidence level has increased since Bauer’s arrival. “Since Mr. Bauer came to China, I have changed my entire thought process, work ethic and attitude about fencing.

Each member of the Chinese Team is under much pressure to qualify for a spot in Beijing. Bauer and Zhang are currently training eight fencers. The 2007 World Championships will take place in St. Petersburg, Russia in October. By then, only five fencers will remain. Of course, only four will make it to Beijing, but unlike the American system, where points determine who qualifies, the Chinese Team will be selected by the coaching staff. Wang does not appear fazed one bit. “I am confident that I can be one of the best fencers in the world.” Wang followed that with a silver medal in Budapest, and an eighth place finish the following week in Moscow, vaulting him to 15th in the world.