"A woman always labors under a disadvantage in any athletic tournament. Being a woman, she has to do twice the work any ordinary man would have to do to prove her ability.

In my case, the audiences always seemed to take it for granted that there was a certain amount of gallantry on the part of the man fencing against me, simply because he was not fencing with one of his own sex. If any point was in doubt and was finally allowed to me, the spectators were sure to say; ‘Oh, he’s gallant, and has allowed her that point.’

That was why I always put forward my utmost efforts to beat an opponent so hard, fast, and decisively that there could be no possible doubt as to my superiority. Some of the scars I carry on my face, sword arm, and body show conclusively how much chivalric consideration was shown me because I was a woman."

[–] angrystego@lemmy.world 8 points 6 days ago

I'd love to see some of the matches, it must have been spectacular.

[–] TheBat@lemmy.world 18 points 6 days ago (1 children)

⚠️PSA: Lesbians, wipe that drool from your chins.⚠️

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 17 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

TIL I'm a lesbian

[–] Thassodar@sh.itjust.works 11 points 6 days ago (1 children)

We are all lesbians on this blessed day.

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Speak for yourself

[–] Thassodar@sh.itjust.works 6 points 6 days ago (1 children)

If I'm not mistaken, you just learned today.

[–] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

Oh, you're not actually familiar with Ken M?

Anyway, yes, that was the original joke.

[–] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 16 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Fencing gear was WAY cooler in the past.

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 7 points 6 days ago

Bring back cuirasses!

[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 3 points 6 days ago

Full contact HEMA.

[–] Warl0k3@lemmy.world 11 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (2 children)

Ella Hattan: spent her entire sports career fighting to be recognized as more than just her sex.

Lemmy users: omg sword lady

I'm not gonna say that wasn't also my initial reaction, but the only comments are just pugjesus and thirsting. It's just kinda depressing nobody has anything else to say, here.

[–] sbv@sh.itjust.works 10 points 6 days ago (1 children)

What is there to say?

We didn't know about her until PugJesus enlightened us. It's a picture, so unless someone has something interesting to say about her breastplate, sword, or hairstyle, we're gonna default to something we're all qualified to speak about: her effect on us.

[–] Warl0k3@lemmy.world 12 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (2 children)

Personally my first reaction (after the cartoon "awooga" noises died down and I was done sending the wiki page to my sister...) was to appreciate how she's not wearing %!#%$ boob-plate.

Also, turns out she used to fence her girlfriends topless. NSFW.

I ain't saying it's wrong to think she's hot, she was clearly hot, but it's a historical post for a pretty significant female entertainer and it's all just thirsting and moving on. Hell you can even be thirsty and say something notable, like how many of the the photo tableaux she did are not hard to find and are considered some of the earliest american true sapphic-oriented (produced by gay women for the consumption of other gay women) erotica that's still surviving.

There's a lot to say here, even just about how hot she was, it's just disappointing that nobody is saying it.

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 3 points 6 days ago

I ain't saying it's wrong to think she's hot, she was clearly hot, but it's a historical post for a pretty significant female entertainer and it's all just thirsting and moving on. Hell you can even be thirsty and say something notable, like how many of the the photo tableaux she did are not hard to find and are considered some of the earliest american true sapphic-oriented (produced by gay women for the consumption of other gay women) erotica that's still surviving.

Really? I had no idea! That's super cool

[–] Tar_alcaran@sh.itjust.works 2 points 6 days ago

I wouldn't fence anyone topless, especially not someone I liked... I can't tell that's awesome or idiotic, but I guess they didn't wear helmets at any time, so really how much worse could it get.

[–] PugJesus@piefed.social 5 points 6 days ago

tbf, there were only two other comments at the time. And many excellent photos on here sadly go without comment at all.

Not saying it doesn't mean anything that the first two comments were thirst-comments, just that it's not uncommon for people not to have anything they want to say even on very interesting photos.

[–] GrantUsEyes@lemmy.zip 4 points 6 days ago

What a badass!!

[–] ramenshaman@lemmy.world -1 points 6 days ago

🥵