Bayer places 12th at World Championships

Cliff Bayer, a Penn senior taking the year off to train for the Olympics, lost of Ukranian Serge Goloubitski. Even though yesterday was the 10th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, it seems that the Cold War may just be back on. Only this time, they're using foils. At last week's World Championships in Seoul, South Korea, America's Cliff Bayer -- a Wharton senior and Penn fencer on leave to train for the Olympics -- fell 15-9 to Serge Goloubitski, a Ukranian who is now carving out something of a rivalry with Bayer, one of the best fencers in United States history. "Last time, it was a little heated because he was surprised," Bayer said. "This time it was mostly concentrated, which is much better." Earlier this year, Bayer had defeated Goloubitski in the quarterfinals of a World Cup event in St. Petersburg, Russia. It was a lopsided bout, with Bayer winning 15-6. Goloubitski was upset with Bayer's style in the bout but Bayer was unfazed, going on to become the first American ever to win a gold medal at a World Cup event. This time, however, the result was not as good for Bayer. With the early loss to Goloubitski, Bayer was only able to place 12th at the competition. "It was kind of a revenge match," Bayer said. "He just also had the day of his life." Goloubitski has had similar days for three straight years now, winning all three World Championships. That makes him the early favorite for next year's Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, where he will be the man that everyone -- not just Bayer -- is trying to knock off of the top of the hill. "There's 30 guys out there at a top level who can win a competition," Bayer said. "It's as much a rivalry with him as with any of the other guys. He's definitely going to be the man to beat at the Olympics, and that makes him everybody's rival." Goloubitski didn't seem to care that the world's best fencers were after him in Seoul, as he easily won in the finals, 15-3. "He was amazing," Bayer said. "It's tough when you have to face someone at that caliber who's feeling it that day." Bayer should know. He's been "feeling it" for most of this year. In addition to the 12th place finish at the World Championships and the gold medal at the event in St. Petersburg -- where he defeated 1995 World Champion Dimitri Chevtchencko, as well as Goloubitski -- Bayer finished 13th in a World Cup event at Valencia, Venezuela, in June. He was seventh at Haifa, Israel, in September and won the bronze medal in May's event at Espinho, Portugal. And last month, Bayer was named Male Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Fencing Association. Bayer, however, cannot afford to think about all that he's done this year -- at least not yet. "I try not to look back because I have about 350 days until the Olympics," said Bayer, who was happy just to be in the 1996 Olympics at Atlanta, but wants to have a good showing next year in Sydney. "There's a limited amount of time, but after that, I can sit back and reflect. Hopefully, it will be a good reflection." Even if Bayer's Olympic campaign is not successful by his standards, he will most likely turn in the greatest fencing performance of any American ever.