Sandra Sassine and her sabre team qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games

For the first time the games are welcoming fencing in teams, and the Canadian team will take part, seeing as they came in 10th place at the Female Sabre Team World Cup competition for Olympic selection in Algiers on Saturday, March 22. The victory of the Americans, who are within the top four world standings, allowed a second team from the American zone to secure a ticket to the games. In this case it was Canada. Canada is classed in 9th place, significantly ahead of the Venezuelans and the Cubans.

The female sabre team has been wondering since last fall when they would be able to officially celebrate their Olympic qualification. “Mathematically, it was practically a sure thing in Italy. With the victory of the Americans in Algiers and our coming in 10th place, it became concrete. We were going to the games in Beijing. I thought of my father. It’s been a dream for me for a long time, my father has been encouraging me non-stop. I still have difficulty believing it," Sassine said in an interview with Courrier Laval. "We have to thank the Americans. Our future was in their hands. They gave us a serious boost," she said.

The Canadian team's members include Julie Cloutier, Olga Ovtchinnikova, Wendy Saschenbrecker and Sandra Sassine. The girls lost 45-20 to the Polish team in the preliminaries, and went on to win against Senegal 45-29 and against Azerbaijan 45-40. They lost 44-45 against the Germans. "We are really happy. We worked really hard at the beginning of the season by placing ourselves well ahead of the Venezuelans and the Cubans. Our results are getting better with each competition. We can't wait to participate in the Olympic Games," she said. Sassine came in 50th place in the individual competition in Algiers.

Sandra is well aware that she may be closing the books on her fencing career in Beijing. Once home, the Laval resident will attempt to finish her studies in physical education. The 28-year-old athlete has three full-time semesters to complete before finishing her degree.

"My participation in the games is my reward for all the efforts and sacrifices of the last few years," she said.

Sandra's roommate, Marie-Ève Marleau, was also there waiting. The diver wants to copy her roommate by also qualifying for the games in Beijing this coming June. "I am 100% behind Marie-Ève. I think that she and Émilie Heymans will both qualify for Beijing. I'm sending her positive energy," said Sandra.

Sassine, who grew up in Duvernay, injured her hip in Italy. She was going to meet a doctor the day after the interview to find out how severe the injury was.

Sandra Sassine is also accomplished internationally as an individual competitor. The member of the Cœur de Lion du Collège Regina Assumpta club stands in 27th place.

"It's my best world standing since the beginning of my career. I want to climb higher in order to be well placed for the Beijing Games," she said. In order to do so, Sandra is going to face a hectic month. If her injury isn't too severe she'll be participating in several international competitions in order to gain more points. "The girls want to be in good standing, since the formula for the games in Beijing is direct elimination. There is no room for error," she said.