At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Marc Cerboni won the team bronze medal in foil. Forty years later, it will be exhibited at the National Sports Museum in Nice. Family, friends, and members of the OGC Nice Fencing Club gathered last Thursday to watch this donation and pay tribute to the French fencer.
This Thursday, March 7, 2024, marks the entrance of the first Olympic medal from the 1984 Olympic Games to the National Sports Museum. It is the bronze medal of Marc Cerboni won in the team foil event in fencing. Forty years later, OGC Nice Fencing has partnered with the National Sports Museum to highlight Marc’s achievement. For Anne, his wife, “Marc’s belongings must be here to be seen and shared.” For the family, this initiative was obvious. Even though initially, the medal was not supposed to be part of the donation, as Thomas, a museum representative, explains, “It was not originally planned to include the medal. We initially focused on the outfit and the foil.”
A legacy to share
Marc started fencing at the age of seven at OGC Nice Fencing. He moved to Paris for his studies and joined the Racing club. It was through fencing that he met his wife, Anne. The French fencer learned many unconventional techniques thanks to his coach, who thought outside the box. Anne recalls, “His opponents, surprised by his touches, would complain, calling him ‘The rat’.” Marc even customized a t-shirt with the inscription in English “The rat“. Some friends also share their memories. For instance, many remember waking up early to watch the competition. It was a historic moment for them and for France. Adrien, the son of the French fencer, emphasized the importance of the medal in the donation. “It seemed very relevant and normal that this medal be included, because we go beyond mere family heritage; we are talking about the history of French sport.” For him, sharing this medal can help inspire future generations who come to discover Marc’s story at the Museum.
OGC Nice Fencing took advantage of the tribute and the school holidays to organize an introduction to fencing. Free and open to all, it allowed young and old alike to discover this sport in this Olympic year. Supervised by the club’s youth, the many children who attended tried their hand at foil.
