Pavel Kolobkov

Épée. Kolobkov won Olympic épée gold at Sydney 2000 and world titles spread across more than a decade, and his game is the clearest lesson in how épée works. With the whole body as target and no right of way, he waited, controlled distance and struck the forearm or foot the instant an opponent committed. Watch him and you understand why épée bouts can look slow and then end in a flash.