Fencing clever for double tilt at glory

The outcome and controversy surrounding Egypt’s first free democratic elections will have barely registered in the minds of Britain’s Olympians.

With less than a month to go until the greatest show on earth begins on their own doorstep, the 390 or so athletes already selected and those still vying for places, are doing nothing but eating, sleeping and breathing London 2012. If it has nothing to do with how to win a gold medal, they are not interested.

The one exception to this single-minded focus is Husayn Rosowksy, a fencer from Sheffield, for whom the first steps towards democracy in the North African country resonated greatly.

Rosowsky was born and raised in Sheffield but his mother, Amal, is Egyptian.

She supported the vanquished Ahmed Shafik, who was beaten by just four per cent of the total count.

Mohammed Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood party won, a result that delighted Rosowski’s elder brother.

As for the young swordsman who will compete for two gold medals in London this summer, he is just happy that an outcome has been reached and a future can now be carved for the troubled nation of his ancestors.

He tweeted: “The Muslim Brotherhood win the Egyptian elections!!! Brother happy, mum not happy. A new era for the Egyptians. Inshallah (God-willing) for the best.”

Rosowsky is a Yorkshireman and will wear the Team GB kit at this summer’s Games as proudly as anyone.

But he is also a muslim, whose heritage is part of his identity.

“I’m half Egyptian and I’m very proud of it,” Rosowsky told the Yorkshire Post.

“I’m always very interested in what’s happening over there.

“My mother’s not too happy that Mohammed Morsi got elected, but my brother is. I was brought up in a Muslim background and am still a practising Muslim.

“I try my best to be as religious as possible because it helps me a lot. I always pray to God before I compete.

“Normal practice in Islam is to pray five times a day and I do that as often as I can.

“Whatever happens, win or lose, I know it’s not so important. It’s just fencing. There’s so much more to life.”

By the time Rosowksy challenges for gold in the individual foil event on Tuesday, July 31, and the team foil on Sunday, August 5, he accepts that he may well have been swept up in the emotion of the Olympics.

But before then, and even after, there is so much more to this level-headed young man.

Take for instance the fact that his father is Ukranian English and he had to watch a Euro 2012 game recently where he knew his father would be torn emotionally.

And not only that, Rosowsky is in the second year of a maths degree at Greenwich University and almost as soon as the Games are over he will sit his end-of-year exams.

“It’s quite difficult, juggling it all,” he conceded.

“Because of my studying, I’ve only been fencing full-time for the last three months.”

His elevation to the British Olympic team was only announced at the start of June.

He is the up-and-coming star of the foil team, having won the British title in his home city of Sheffield last December.

“That was pretty big,” he said. “Everything went really well that week.”

Everything has been going well since he first held a sword at the age of seven, at the Sheffield Buccaneers Fencing Club.

Rosowsky said: “My elder brothers were into it, and being a younger sibling I followed them into it.

“It just turned out I took to it a lot quicker than they did, but there’s no jealousy on their behalf. They’re very supportive and proud of me.”

His elevation through the ranks has been swift and he says that he has never faced any prejudice in the sport because of his background or his heritage.

Britain is not a recognised fencing nation, but despite that, Rosowsky exudes the confidence of youth when he says that medals are within his grasp in both events he will contest.

“I’m ready to tackle both and I’m going to give them both my all,” said Rosowksy, who flew out to the final ranking tournament in Cuba last week to try and boost his world ranking ahead of the Olympic draw.

“I’m one of those who goes into every match thinking I can win and I really do believe I can make that medal podium at London.

“Hopefully, it all comes together in the individual event.

“And in the team discipline, our team is very new but we’re improving with every tournament.

“James Davis like myself is young while Richard Kruse brings the experience.

“We came sixth at the recent Euopean Championships and I think we’re ready to do something special.

“I think we have a good chance of winning a medal.”