Gwendoline Neligan

Gwendoline Neligan (23 November 1905 – 10 April 1972) was a London born, British/English foil fencer, and winner of the 1933 World Fencing Championships.

[1] She was promoted second from her first-round pool and again from her semi-final, losing both times to the Hungarian Erna Bogen-Bogáti.

At the same championships, she won a silver medal as part of the British women’s team that came second to Hungary, a feat that was repeated the following year.

From 1934 to 1938 she was British Champion and would have been a strong contender for the 1936 Olympic title had she not been struck down by appendicitis a fortnight before the Games.

Using her reach to dominate her opponents, she became known for making progressive attacks covering the length of the piste.