Thrusting foils is not something Britain is renowned for on the international sporting stage but that is rapidly changing.

After a visit to his local fencing club in Finchley with his mum, Kruse fell in love with the sport and has since been racking up the trophies.

His first international medal was silver at the 2001 European U-20 Championships and he improved that to gold the following year. He has been GB's number one for the last four years.

An eighth in Athens - the best Olympic show by a GB fencer since Tokyo in 1964 - and a silver in last year's European Championships gave his rivals plenty to ponder.