David Ramsey: Documentary shows boxer’s fight was not in ring
LONDON — When Seth Kelsey was 12, he took his first fencing lesson. His instructor, former Polish Olympic coach Ed Korfanty was impressed. Korfanty told Kelsey’s parents their son would one day be great.
He might, Korfanty said, even win an Olympic medal.
Wednesday Kelsey will get the chance to Korfanty’s prediction come true. Kelsey, a 2003 Air Force Academy graduate, has moved to the semifinals of epee fencing competition. The bout is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. MST.
Kelsey, who entered the competition with the No. 17 seed, will face Venezuela’s Ruben Gascon. The winner moves to the gold medal match at 12:10 p.m. MST. The loser moves to the bronze medal match at 1 p.m. MST.
Kelsey’s path to the semis was a difficult one. He barely survived his round of 32 opening bout with China’s Li Guojie, 8-7, before moving to the round of 16, where he faced No. 1 seed Nikolai Novosjolov from Estonia.
He defeated Novosjolov, 15-11, controlling the entire bout. He was even more impressive in the quarterfinals, defeating Venezuela’s Silvio Fernandez, 15-9. Kelsey was cheered by two-dozen supporters, many wearing tie-dyed “Team Kelsey” shirts.
His semifinal bout against Gascon will be an interesting battle of contrasts. Gascon is 5-foot-9, 175 pounds. Kelsey is 6-foot-4, 210 pounds.
This is Kelsey’s third Olympics. He had not previously won a bout.
Kelsey led Air Force to a 9th-place finish at the 2003 NCAA fencing championship, where he also won the epee national title.
Twitter: @davidramzFacebook: davidramsey13
Air Force Academy graduate Seth Kelsey, left, of Team USA reacts after his match against Venezuela’s Silvio Fernandez in the men’s individual epee fencing competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, in London.(AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) Photo by
The United States’ Seth Kelsey, left, competes against Venezuela’s Silvio Fernandez during the men’s individual epee fencing competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, in London.(AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) Photo by
The United States’ Seth Kelsey, left, competes against Venezuela’s Silvio Fernandez during the men’s individual epee fencing competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky) Photo by