Thrust and parry at the Fencing World Championship

Fencing is one of four sports that have been featured at every modern Olympic Games. There are currently three types of weapons used in that competition; Foil, Épée and Sabre. The competitors in this picture are fighting with sabers.

Wikipedia.org says:

The Sabre is the 'cutting' weapon. Points may be scored with edges and surfaces of the blade, as well as the point. Although the current design with a light and flexible blade appeared around the turn of the 19th century, similar sporting weapons with more substantial blades were used throughout the Victorian era.