Really great video. As a black sabre fencer it really hurt having my first impression of him be his poor attitude paired with the racist comments that stemmed from it.
I've always liked the openness of the fencing community. I'm able to fence all types of different people at my club. Seeing those insane comments was a weird reality check that even this sports community is problematic in some parts.
this comment has the sanest take, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I feel for Curtis' struggles as a fencer of color and simultaneously abhor how he treats and impacts others.
He was also barred from competing in the USFA for a year after the Pan-Am games for accusations of sexual assault. It’s important to note said coach that was outed for racism was from St. John’s. Which is where Curtis also went. Curtis was unfortunately also well known for having an explosive temper on the US circuit before the Ari Simmons bout. He was black carded in a pool at a NAC once after he escalated an argument with a ref to the point where security was called.
Thats the problem with high competitive fencing, it can bring out the the worst emotional outbursts and attitudes when not warrented. In some people. High stakes high emotiones. Ive seen it enough where an initial nice fencer ends up being their own worst enemy. It ultimately leaves a bad taste and gives fencing a bad name. So systems need to be in place that penalize poor behaviours like these. Emotional maturity. Luckily the majority of fencers are nice.
You wonder why he doesn't get blackcarded for that brutal leg whipping of Knysh? Simple. He's developed a rep for being a hard to referee. Hot tempered, purposely doing illegal things, then arguing and arguing, slowing the bout down, making life miserable for the poor refs stuck with his bouts. So the refs start to ignore the things that any other fencer would get carded for. "Oh well, that's just McDowald. What ya gonna do?" Sandro Bazadze does the same thing. Constantly coming off the strip and getting in the refs' face to argue a call, and yelling all the time he does so. Yet refs let him get away with that, over and over. And the result? In a sport where we already have controversy over the refs making seemingly random decisions about who's attack it was, and none of us being able to see a difference in two attacks, Bazadze get the benefit of the doubt. You can't prove this, but I'd say the refs are giving him that call simply because they don't want to put up with the arguing from him if he doesn't get it. As for the racism. Of course there is racism in fencing, as there is everywhere. But in this video we've seen examples of him doing things over and over again and not getting carded, including that brutal act against Knysh. Do you think it possible that refs let these things go, simply because they don't want to hear his accusation of racism, and McDowald knows this? I do. And the proof is that he didn't even attempt to apologize. He just walked away.
Keep in mind he has worse antics than Sebastian Patrice, Sandro Bazadze, Valerio Aspromonte & Bogdan Nikishyn, all while being less skilled & more egotistical, I am unsure of how many blacks cards any of those 4 fencers have received but McDowald is absolutely a disgrace to fencing, no excuse is enough to justify any of his actions, decisions or lack of self-control. All high level fencers have similar levels of drive & competitiveness but no one uses it as blatantly as an excuse as McDowald does. Racism is not an excuse to be a violent, dangerous fencer who throws literal tantrums & gets his national team disqualified from Pan-Ams due to him having ZERO respect for anyone, not even himself.
sorry but as someone who does both fencing (for 10 years now) and kendo, kiai is not at all like the screaming in fencing. very different, and for completely different purposes
And with his his horrible reputation, and accusations of sexual harassment, how the HELL did this guy get on the World Cup Team, and why wasn 't the coach all over him for endangering the team's result???
If he always fences with an "I'm the victim" mindset, he's going to keep getting in trouble for doing stupid things. Yeah, he's probably run into racism in his fencing career, and that definitely shouldn't have happened, but that's no excuse to act the way he does. Everyone gets pissed on-strip sometimes. Everyone will have done _something_ they really shouldn't have in anger. But to become infamous for it like he has really says something about the frequency and level of his fits of anger, and he really needs to learn to control it before he gets permanently banned.
He is not a positive influence on the sport. He is a terrible role model for new fencers.He lowers the integrity of epee and has embarrassed our country. worst of all, he chokes at pivotal moments and LOSES. get rid of him, he just isnt that interesting. He is a microcosm and example of the consequences of the race conversation in this country.
I first found out about Curtis from a Hodinkee ‘Talking Watches’ episode. Looks to be a chill person off the strip but quickly changes when he’s on it. Hindering his own individual accomplishments is one thing, but to bring the entire Team USA down with you is next-level selfishness. The bad boy of fencing.
Really great video. As a black sabre fencer it really hurt having my first impression of him be his poor attitude paired with the racist comments that stemmed from it.
I've always liked the openness of the fencing community. I'm able to fence all types of different people at my club. Seeing those insane comments was a weird reality check that even this sports community is problematic in some parts.
this comment has the sanest take, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I feel for Curtis' struggles as a fencer of color and simultaneously abhor how he treats and impacts others.
He can not handle his emotions and his team and country suffered as a consequence. It is despicable behavior.
Thank you for calling out the victim mindset.
He was also barred from competing in the USFA for a year after the Pan-Am games for accusations of sexual assault.
It’s important to note said coach that was outed for racism was from St. John’s. Which is where Curtis also went.
Curtis was unfortunately also well known for having an explosive temper on the US circuit before the Ari Simmons bout. He was black carded in a pool at a NAC once after he escalated an argument with a ref to the point where security was called.
show me a video of that poule bout
@@dontflyspirit6535 no videos for pools. Happened in 2018 iirc and multiple people mentioned it in a reddit thread
Thats the problem with high competitive fencing, it can bring out the the worst emotional outbursts and attitudes when not warrented. In some people. High stakes high emotiones. Ive seen it enough where an initial nice fencer ends up being their own worst enemy. It ultimately leaves a bad taste and gives fencing a bad name. So systems need to be in place that penalize poor behaviours like these. Emotional maturity. Luckily the majority of fencers are nice.
You wonder why he doesn't get blackcarded for that brutal leg whipping of Knysh? Simple. He's developed a rep for being a hard to referee. Hot tempered, purposely doing illegal things, then arguing and arguing, slowing the bout down, making life miserable for the poor refs stuck with his bouts. So the refs start to ignore the things that any other fencer would get carded for. "Oh well, that's just McDowald. What ya gonna do?"
Sandro Bazadze does the same thing. Constantly coming off the strip and getting in the refs' face to argue a call, and yelling all the time he does so. Yet refs let him get away with that, over and over. And the result? In a sport where we already have controversy over the refs making seemingly random decisions about who's attack it was, and none of us being able to see a difference in two attacks, Bazadze get the benefit of the doubt. You can't prove this, but I'd say the refs are giving him that call simply because they don't want to put up with the arguing from him if he doesn't get it.
As for the racism. Of course there is racism in fencing, as there is everywhere. But in this video we've seen examples of him doing things over and over again and not getting carded, including that brutal act against Knysh. Do you think it possible that refs let these things go, simply because they don't want to hear his accusation of racism, and McDowald knows this? I do. And the proof is that he didn't even attempt to apologize. He just walked away.
Keep in mind he has worse antics than Sebastian Patrice, Sandro Bazadze, Valerio Aspromonte & Bogdan Nikishyn, all while being less skilled & more egotistical, I am unsure of how many blacks cards any of those 4 fencers have received but McDowald is absolutely a disgrace to fencing, no excuse is enough to justify any of his actions, decisions or lack of self-control.
All high level fencers have similar levels of drive & competitiveness but no one uses it as blatantly as an excuse as McDowald does.
Racism is not an excuse to be a violent, dangerous fencer who throws literal tantrums & gets his national team disqualified from Pan-Ams due to him having ZERO respect for anyone, not even himself.
great video. please more of these kind of athlete videos !
sorry but as someone who does both fencing (for 10 years now) and kendo, kiai is not at all like the screaming in fencing. very different, and for completely different purposes
explain please :D
This whole vid makes me anxious lol.
its disappointing that someone who's so talented and unique can have such a bad rep
Wasn’t he also under investigation for sexual assault?
He’s got the temper of a sabre fencer
Why are you being an asshole? Don't be an asshole...
And with his his horrible reputation, and accusations of sexual harassment, how the HELL did this guy get on the World Cup Team, and why wasn
't the coach all over him for endangering the team's result???
It's not pride. It's not ego. It's low impulse control.
yeah.
It's so true.
Sounds pretty racist
@@barnacleandy tf does saying he has low impulse control have to do with being racist
@@barnacleandyyou thinking that smacks more of racism than the idea that Curtis has low impulse control
If he always fences with an "I'm the victim" mindset, he's going to keep getting in trouble for doing stupid things. Yeah, he's probably run into racism in his fencing career, and that definitely shouldn't have happened, but that's no excuse to act the way he does. Everyone gets pissed on-strip sometimes. Everyone will have done _something_ they really shouldn't have in anger. But to become infamous for it like he has really says something about the frequency and level of his fits of anger, and he really needs to learn to control it before he gets permanently banned.
Dude should be a mma fighter not a fencer, bro is misusing his anger.
I'll say it. The guy is vying for the accolade of being the most vigorous right arm in fencing.
He is not a positive influence on the sport. He is a terrible role model for new fencers.He lowers the integrity of epee and has embarrassed our country. worst of all, he chokes at pivotal moments and LOSES. get rid of him, he just isnt that interesting. He is a microcosm and example of the consequences of the race conversation in this country.
bro was def high half the time
bro 9:32 😭
À quelle heure, de tels héros...
quite a glorifying thumnail you have there
I first found out about Curtis from a Hodinkee ‘Talking Watches’ episode. Looks to be a chill person off the strip but quickly changes when he’s on it. Hindering his own individual accomplishments is one thing, but to bring the entire Team USA down with you is next-level selfishness. The bad boy of fencing.
He's not even the "bad boy" he is just straight up the abuser
😭
yeh good fencer but bad team mate
This is why you gatekeep.