Sports selection has shifted from empiricist and phenotypic approaches to multidimensional scientific-predictive models that integrate biological, psychological, social, and contextual variables (Baker et al., 2020). This paradigmatic evolution recognizes talent not as a static attribute, but as a dynamic and emergent construct, whose early identification requires going beyond simply observing current performance to delve into assessing the subject's developmental potential and trainability (Till & Baker, 2020).

In sports with internally differentiated modalities, such as fencing, contemporary research emphasizes that "talent identification must be followed by effective guidance and specialization" ( Vaeyens et al., 2008, p. 703). It is recognized that "the predictive potential of early selection increases significantly when the specific requirements of the subdiscipline are considered" (Güllich & Emrich, 2014, p. 92). Authors such as Cobley et al. (2022) establish a clear conceptual differentiation between selection (identification of individuals with superior potential for a sport), guidance (specialized direction towards specific modalities) and specialization (progressive focus on a single discipline).

In Cuba, fencing has historically been a sport with significant international results. However, in recent decades, a decline in competitive performance has been observed, associated, among other factors, with weaknesses in the initial talent identification and selection processes (Lastres Madrigal, 2023). In response to this problem, the research project " Talent Selection for High-Performance Fencing " (2017-2021) was developed, culminating in Lastres Madrigal's doctoral thesis (2023) entitled " Selection of Potentially Talented Fencers from the Grassroots Level to the EIDE (School of Sports Initiation) ."

This continuous improvement system represents a significant advance by introducing predictive tests that evaluate biological, psychological, physical, and tactical dimensions, surpassing previous empirical approaches. However, as the author herself acknowledges, her research "does not allow for assigning athletes to each weapon in accordance with its competitive demands and specific executive functions to achieve optimal performance." This limitation reveals a critical gap: once a group of young people with fencing potential is identified, the fundamental question arises: foil, épée, or sabre? Current assignments frequently respond to logistical criteria, tradition, or the coach's subjective preference, lacking a scientific basis that maximizes the chances of long-term success.

The differences between weapons are profound and decisive. The foil is a conventional weapon that prioritizes initiative and precision on a small target (the torso); the épée, without a conventional rule, demands a high-risk/reward strategy and speed of reaction to valid touches anywhere on the body; the sabre, also a conventional weapon, requires explosiveness, speed of movement, and cutting actions (FIE, 2023). These regulatory differences generate divergent tactical logics that translate into distinct performance profiles and anthropometric, physiological, technical, and cognitive-decisional demands (Turner et al., 2023; Roi & Bianchedi , 2022).

International research has provided empirical evidence of these differences. Roi and Bianchedi (2022) demonstrate that elite foil fencers have 35% higher accuracy rates than fencers using other weapons. Piras et al. (2021) show that expert foil fencers process visual information 200 ms faster than novices, while Chaabène et al. (2021) report reaction times 15-20% faster in elite épée fencers. Bottoms et al. (2021) confirm greater lower limb power in sabre fencers, and Hassan et al. (2023) show that expert épée fencers possess a wider functional field of vision. On a psychological level, Bertollo et al. (2022) associate success in foil with strategic patience and emotional control, while in sabre they highlight controlled aggression and impulse control.

In the Cuban context, authors such as Sánchez Córdova et al. (2020) have integrated proactivity and creative potential as key indicators for the selection of fencers. Lastres Madrigal et al. (2022) validated a tactical purpose model for combat sports, while Cordero Nápoles et al. (2011) proposed specific tests of reaction speed and translation. Ilisástigui Avilés (1999) and Ilisástegui and Fleitas (2001) introduced the methodology of contrasting real and ideal models, and Bodes Yanes (2001) demonstrated the viability of mathematical decision algorithms using his "method of balances."

Despite this valuable background, the literature lacks a study that systematically integrates findings on the differentiated demands of foil, épée, and sabre with the explicit objective of constructing performance models to serve as the basis for a specialized guidance system. This research aims to fill this gap, based on the hypothesis that the multidimensional characterization of the demand profiles for each weapon will allow for the establishment of solid scientific foundations to guide potentially talented fencers toward the discipline with the greatest affinity, thus optimizing talent management in Cuban high-performance fencing.

A descriptive study with a mixed-methods approach was conducted, combining qualitative and quantitative methods to characterize weapon performance models. The research was carried out between January and December 2025, adopting an exploratory sequential design that allowed for the integration of a documentary analysis of the regulations, a systematic literature review, and the triangulation of findings from different sources.

Documentary analysis was used as the main method, applied to two fundamental corpora: (1) the Technical Regulations of the International Fencing Federation (FIE, 2022, 2023), from which the regulatory provisions that determine the differentiated tactical logics of foil (t.77, t.83-88), épée (t.90-92) and sabre (t.96-105) were extracted; and (2) the scientific literature published between 2017 and 2025, identified by systematic search in PubMed, Scopus, SciELO and Redalyc databases, using the descriptors:"fencing talent identification ", " foil performance profile ", " épée physiological "know technical-tactical demands analysis ," "fencing talent selection," and their combinations.

For the systematization of the requirements for each weapon, the ten indicators proposed by Copello Janjaque for the analysis of combat sports were applied, previously used in the Cuban context by Lastres Madrigal et al. (2017). These indicators include: classification of actions, functional structure, energy cost, predominant type of perception, space and time restriction, real and total duration, time between presentations, density of loads, duration of the competition, and effectiveness criteria.

The unit of analysis consisted of the performance profiles of high-level fencers in the three disciplines, derived from original studies published in indexed journals. Research reporting quantitative or qualitative data on the physical, technical, tactical, psychological, or cognitive demands of foil, épée, or sabre was included, using samples of national or international-level athletes. Studies focused exclusively on non-competitive children or on disciplines other than Olympic fencing were excluded.

The data extracted from documentary and bibliographic sources were organized into analysis matrices according to the dimensions established in Copello's indicators. A theoretical triangulation process was carried out, comparing the findings of different authors for each weapon and dimension. The resulting profiles were subjected to a validation process using the consensus technique with three experts (two PhDs in sports science specializing in combat sports and a national fencing coach with more than 20 years of experience), who evaluated the relevance and comprehensiveness of the characterizations developed.

The main limitation of this research lies in its predominantly descriptive and theoretical nature, based on the systematization of previous findings rather than the collection of primary data on Cuban fencers. While the constructed profiles are based on robust international evidence, their applicability to the national context will require subsequent empirical studies to confirm the validity of the models within the Cuban population.

Analysis of the regulations and specialized literature reveals that the foil is defined by three fundamental characteristics: priority convention (FIE, 2022, t.83-88), valid target area limited to the body (t.77), and exclusively tip actions (t.76). These provisions generate a tactical logic of controlling the initiative and achieving pinpoint precision.

The findings of Roi and Bianchedi (2022) indicate that elite foil fencers exhibit 35% higher accuracy rates than fencers of other weapons. This data is consistent with the biomechanical observations of Aquino et al. (2022), who report highly developed fine motor control patterns in this discipline. The requirement for accuracy on a reduced target is, therefore, a critical indicator for foil orientation.

In the cognitive domain, Piras et al. (2021) demonstrate that expert foil fencers process visual information 200 ms faster than novices, a crucial advantage for interpreting the weapons phrase and gaining priority. This finding is complemented by neuropsychological studies by Bertollo et al. (2022), who associate success in foil with strategic patience and emotional control, profiles that allow for tolerating delays in tactical reward.

The application of Copello's indicators allows the systematization of the demands of the foil in the following way: varied acyclic actions, predominantly offensive and compound defensive; polyarticular functional structure with emphasis on kinematic chains of the lower body and weapon arm; energy cost in mixed zone (aerobic-anaerobic) with predominance of anaerobic processes that are determining for success; visual perception as the predominant type, complemented by kinesthetic, tactile and auditory; spatial restriction on a 14 m piste with periods of 3 minutes of effective time; variable duration according to the phrase of weapons; and effectiveness criterion based on conventionality, where attack prevails over defense.

The épée is distinguished by the absence of a priority convention (FIE, 2022, t.92) and the total valid surface area (t.91), which generates a tactical logic of calculated risk and speed of reaction. The analysis by Turner et al. (2023) reveals that 68% of touches in épée are counterattacks or responses, confirming the reactive nature of this discipline.

Chaabène et al. (2021) report that elite épée fencers have reaction times 15-20% faster than fencers of other weapons, a decisive advantage in a discipline where simultaneous touches are allowed. Additionally, Hassan et al. (2023) demonstrate that expert épée fencers possess a wider functional field of vision, an attribute necessary for processing information from the opponent's entire body.

The characterization using Copello's indicators for épée reveals: varied acyclic actions with a predominance of simple responses; a polyarticular functional structure similar to foil but with a greater demand for reaction speed; mixed energy cost where alactic anaerobic processes are determining factors; visual perception as the predominant type with emphasis on distributed attention; spatial and temporal restriction identical to foil; and effectiveness criterion based on the absence of convention, where the touch is direct and the double hit is valid.

On the psychological level, the findings of Bertollo et al. (2022) and Turner et al. (2023) converge in pointing out risk tolerance and probabilistic calculation as distinctive traits of the successful épée fencer, in contrast to the strategic patience of the foil fencer or the controlled aggressiveness of the sabre fencer.

Sabre combines the priority convention (FIE, 2022, t.101-105) with the possibility of touching with the edge, back edge, and point (t.96), generating a tactical logic of speed, controlled aggression, and offensive continuity. The analysis by Hassan et al. (2023) indicates that 72% of actions in sabre are offensive, confirming the predominantly attacking nature of this discipline.

Bottoms et al. (2021) demonstrate that elite saber fencers exhibit greater lower limb power, an essential attribute for the explosive movements and arrow-like actions characteristic of this weapon. Biomechanical studies by Aquino et al. (2022) identify complex coordination patterns specific to the saber, particularly in the shoulder-elbow-wrist synchronization required for cutting actions.

The application of Copello's indicators to the saber reveals: varied acyclic actions with an offensive predominance; a polyarticular functional structure with emphasis on the lower body for explosive movements; mixed energy cost with a predominance of alactic anaerobic processes; visual perception as the predominant type, requiring high mobility of nervous processes and fast processing; a spatial restriction of 14 m with the particularity that time is not usually restrictive due to the dynamism of the actions; duration of very dynamic assaults (between 1.5 and 2 minutes of effective time in direct elimination); and a criterion of effectiveness based on conventionality with strict regulatory adjustment according to the phrase of weapons.

Psychologically, Bertollo et al. (2022) highlight controlled aggressiveness and impulsivity regulation as fundamental traits of the sabre player, a profile that allows maintaining constant initiative without engaging in non-priority actions (Table 1).

Table 1.

Indicator	Foil	Sword	Saber
Stock classification	Combined offensive-defensive	Predominance of simple answers	Offensive dominance
Functional structure	Polyarticular, fine control	Multiarticular, reaction speed	Multiarticular, explosive power
Energy cost	Mixed (anaerobic determinant)	Mixed (alactic determinant)	Mixed (predominantly alactic)
Predominant perception	Visual + fine kinesthetic	Visual (distributed attention)	Visual (fast processing)
Effectiveness criterion	Convention (priority)	Without convention (direct hit)	Convention (offensive action)
Reaction time	Complex processing	15-20% faster	Execution speed
Precision	35% higher in reduced white	Wide precision	Dynamic precision
Psychological profile	Strategic patience	Risk calculation	Controlled Aggression

Source: own elaboration based on Roi & Bianchedi (2022), Chaabène et al. (2021), Bottoms et al. (2021), Piras et al. (2021), Bertollo et al. (2022), Turner et al. (2023), Hassan et al. (2023) and Aquino et al. (2022).

Cano Gutiérrez's (2018) research on creativity as a multidimensional phenomenon, with its 14 indicators, provides a novel perspective for differentiating profiles by weapon. In the context of fencing, these indicators manifest themselves differently:

For foil, originality and fluency in weapon phrases, flexibility in adapting strategies, and sensitivity in reading the opponent's intentions emerge as key indicators. The strategic nature of this weapon demands divergent thinking capable of generating multiple tactical solutions.

These findings complement the previously described physical-technical profiles and reinforce the need for a multidimensional approach that considers both the conditional abilities and the cognitive styles and psychological dispositions of potential talents.

The results obtained provide a solid scientific basis for the development of a specialized guidance system. First, they confirm that there is no single profile of a talented fencer; what constitutes an advantage in one weapon may be irrelevant or disadvantageous in another. Second, they demonstrate the need for guidance assessments to be specific to each discipline: reduced-target accuracy tests under fatigue for foil, reaction time tests to multiple stimuli for épée, and assessments of explosive power and dynamic coordination for sabre.

Integrating the performance models developed here with the previous selection system of Lastres Madrigal (2023) would allow a shift from identifying "potentially talented fencers" to guiding them, based on sound reasoning, toward the discipline with the greatest affinity. This process would require the development of specific instruments that operationalize the identified discriminating indicators, as well as decision algorithms that compare the applicant's multidimensional profile with the reference models constructed for each weapon, following the model comparison methodology proposed by Ilisástigui Avilés (1999) and Ilisástegui and Fleitas (2001), and the variable weighting principles of the "Balances Method" by Bodes Yanes (2001).