BRUCE DICKINSON ROCKS FENCING WORLD: 13TH PLACE FINISH

Bruce Dickinson, the legendary frontman of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden, proved once again that his talent isn’t confined to music.
The 66-year-old heavy metal icon competed in the Circuit Européen 2025 fencing tournament in Fâches-Thumesnil, northern France, and secured an impressive 13th place finish out of 31 participants in the veterans category.
Facing off against some of Europe’s best, Dickinson lost to fencing legend Pascal Jolyot, a three-time Olympic medalist with a gold in team foil and silver in individual foil from Moscow 1980. Dickinson humbly remarked about his formidable opponent: “He is not bad.”
Fencing has been a lifelong passion for Dickinson, who trained with the British Olympic squad in the 1980s. Speaking to La Voix du Nord, he recalled: “The last time I was in Lille, it was in 2000 with Iron Maiden for world tour rehearsals. Now, I’m here for a veteran fencing competition – a foil event for older athletes, like me.”
The mayor of Fâches-Thumesnil, Patrick Proisy, highlighted Dickinson’s participation as a testament to the local fencing club’s excellence, calling it “a mark of pride” and sharing his excitement on Facebook.
This event isn’t Dickinson’s first time excelling outside music. A former commercial pilot with over 7,500 hours of flying, he also brews beer. His multifaceted life underscores a connection often overlooked: the synergy between professional music and sports. Both demand discipline, creativity, and the relentless pursuit of mastery.
Dickinson isn’t alone in bridging these worlds. Chelcee Grimes, a songwriter for stars like Dua Lipa, also played soccer for top clubs like Liverpool and Tottenham. Julio Iglesias, one of the best-selling Latin artists in history, once kept goal for Real Madrid’s reserve team. And Jack Johnson, the renowned singer-songwriter, was a surfing prodigy who reached the Pipeline Masters finals at just 17.
Bruce Dickinson’s journey serves as a reminder: passion and discipline transcend fields, inspiring us all to excel in multiple arenas.